In 2009 Norway assisted Zambia with 382 mill. Norwegian kroner of which 313 million was managed through the Norwegian Embassy in Lusaka. Our main areas of cooperation are:
- Poverty Reduction budget support
- Natural resource management, climate adaption and food security.
- Governance, including public financial management, anti-corruption and gender.
Norway is actively aligning its development assistance to Zambian priorities, plans and procedures as expressed in the National Development Plan, the Joint Assistance Strategy for Zambia, relevant sector strategic plans and miscellaneous national laws and regulations. In addition, the Embassy is actively harmonising with other cooperating partners to improve efficiency and results, as well as to alleviate administrative burdens on Zambian institutions, be it Government or NGOs.
A major element within the Norwegian governance portfolio is the long-term support to the Office of the Auditor General, supplemented by technical assistance from the Norwegian Auditor General’s Office. Norway is also active in its support to Zambia’s anti- corruption efforts. Gender is another important part of the governance portfolio. The Embassy supports the Government’s Gender in Development Department through UNDP and Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council. In addition, gender perspectives are integrated into other programmes.
Within the area of natural resource management, Norway has over the last year, scaled up its support considerably towards conservation farming, which focuses on climatically adapted agriculture for small-scale farmers. The intention is to facilitate a broad based national programmes which also adress food security and the livelihood of the poor peasant farmers. Norway continues its long-standing support to Zambia’s national parks and wildlife conservation areas. Focus is on biodiversity and sustainable management of these resources. The support is rendered through the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and is so far concentrated to South Luangwa and Kafue national parks. These parks have also a big potential for tourism and private sector development. Through long-term Norwegian support, South Luangwa has become one of the best managed national parks in the region. Norway also supports the Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) aiming at improved livelihood around the national park.
Poverty Reduction budget support is rendered for the financing of Zambia’s National Development Plan. Budget support is also provided to contribute to a more holistic and effective management of the country’s overall financial resources. The Embassy’s budget support provides it with access to key arenas that influence Zambia’s overall development policies and utilisation of the country’s resources, and as such is a cornerstone in Norway’s overall development partnership with the government of Zambia.
Zambia has, in contrast to many of its neighbours, had political stability for a long period of time. In the last few years the country has also achieved a reasonably high level of macroeconomic stability. These factors, together with Zambia’s vast natural resources in land, water and minerals ought to have resulted in a significant reduction of poverty levels. However, this has not been the case. This comprises one of Zambia’s biggest challenges and influences on Norway’s approach to the cooperation.
Norway has consequently changed its focus in the development programming. The Embassy’s partnerships and interventions at all levels are more clearly targeted towards poverty reduction and domestic revenue creation.
In addition to policy dialogue with government institutions, field visits and dialogue with local development stakeholders (such as traditional leaders, the church and a broad selection within civil society) provides the Embassy with greater knowledge and legitimacy in its policy dialogue with the Government.
Contact person at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Lusaka:
Head of Development Cooperation, Tori Hoven.
For the Norwegian version of the article click
here.
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