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26 January 2023
The Secretary General: Message for The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of The Victims of The Holocaust
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Press Release
25 January 2023
Zambia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review
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11 January 2023
Zambia: Abolition of the death penalty ‘a historic milestone’
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Zambia
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Zambia:
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25 September 2020
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02 October 2020
Decade of Action
Deliver #ForPeopleForPlanet. We have 10 years to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. The year 2020 kicks off a reaffirmation of the 2030 Agenda. Demonstrate action through ambition, mobilization and game-changing outcomes for people and for the planet.
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28 October 2020
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11 January 2023
Zambia: Abolition of the death penalty ‘a historic milestone’
President Hakainde Hichilema announced the move on 23 December, which “followed years of advocacy efforts by concerned stakeholders, such as the National Human Rights Commission, civil society groups, development partners, the UN team and other partners,” it said.
The UN team in Zambia is led by Resident Coordinator Beatrice Mutali.
Several UN entities there contributed to the milestone by providing a wide range of technical support to the authorities.
Support for rights review
For example, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN human rights office (OHCHR) assisted the country with preparation for the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Reviews (UPR), including the fourth review scheduled for this year.
The UPR process was established in 2006 to review the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. It is conducted by a Working Group that meets three times a year, with 14 countries reviewed each session.
The abolition of the death penalty has been consistently included in the first, second and third periodic reviews, as a key subject.
‘Breakthrough moment’ in May
President Hichilema took office in August 2021, and a “breakthrough moment” occurred the following May when the leader and the new Zambian Government pledged to abolish the death penalty and work with parliament to this end, the statement said.
Since then, the UN team has stepped up its advocacy efforts, which culminated in the celebration of International Human Rights Day with government partners in December.
The UN team also supported the review, amendment and enactment of ordinary laws, including the Penal Code and Public Order Act, also contributing to the recent repeal of the defamation of the President as a criminal offence.
The UN and the Zambian Government also recently signed a new roadmap for the partnership covering the next five years.
“With this UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the country team will continue to support the government’s efforts to consolidate democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” said the statement.
The original story appeared on the United Nations website on 6 Janaury, 2023
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Story
14 December 2022
From Food Loss To Food Gain
Beauty Manda, 36, is smallholder farmer living in Lundazi district, eastern Zambia. Married and with four children, she has seen it all with crop losses, losing most of her crop each year due to untimely harvesting, improper drying, shelling and transportation, as well as rotting and pest infestation due to poor storage – all being factors driving food loss and waste in Zambia.
“I used to either leave the crop for far too long in the field, or harvest it way too soon,” she says, adding that she had been experiencing crop losses ever since she started farming over a decade ago.
With crop losses of between 30 to 40 percent in Zambia, and up to 50 percent across Africa, access to adequate food in many smallholder farming households is an unforgiving challenge, and income losses an all-too-familiar tale. This is especially so as smallholder farmers hardly produce enough surplus, and any loss or waste impacts not only their food security but also their incomes.
Like many smallholder farmers, Beauty also had no access to modern crop storage facilities. Her common habit—also widely shared among other farming households—has been to dry the crops on bare floor and store them in poorly constructed open, wooden barns. The open barns expose the farmers’ harvests to contamination, pest infestations and moulds arising from excess moisture.
WFP response
Thanks to the World Food Programme (WFP), the government and other partners, Beauty and other smallholder farmers can now gaze at a hopeful horizon as the problem of crop losses gets addressed.
To tackle post-harvest losses, WFP has been supporting farmers like Beauty to access and use low cost, modern and durable post-harvest management solutions. The aim is to contribute to improved food security, which is already under threat due to the climate crisis characterised by droughts, dry spells, extreme temperatures, and floods each farming season.
Beauty is one of the 200,000 smallholder farmers trained on post-harvest loss management, a venture implemented by WFP in partnership with the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, other UN agencies and cooperating partners. Through this initiative, Beauty and other farmers were trained on when and how to harvest and store crops.
“The trainings in post-harvest loss [management] enabled us to understand that timely harvesting helps to retain the quality and maintain the nutrition value of the grain,” she says.
Beauty recalls that she used to harvest her grain when it was with high moisture content or over-dried, both having adverse effects on the quality of the crop for eating or selling.
Accessing low-cost storage technologies
Beauty was also introduced to low-cost hermetic storage bags, which are air-tight bags for storing grains safely. Once emptied of air, the inside of the bags is unsuitable for insects (like weevils and moths) and moulds to survive. The bags also prevent moisture from getting inside and help retain the quality of the harvest until consumption.
To promote the use of hermetic storage bags, in 2022, Beauty received two bags from WFP and bought eight more using the profits she made from her small business.
And now, she observes her grains are well protected from contamination and pests, as the bags keep both at bay.
“The PICS [hermetic storage] bags have two layers of plastic and a sack outside, which prevent pests including termites and mice to enter inside the bags and damage the grain,” Beauty explains.
She notes that since hermetic bags do not require the use of pesticides to keep pests away, this storage technique is not only good for the environment, but also helps smallholder farmers like herself to cut on the cost of the pesticides.
“Minimising and eliminating post-harvest losses is critical to ensuring smallholder farming households have enough food to last them the whole year and have quality surplus to sell at a good price,” says Stephen Omula, WFP’s Programme Policy Officer - Strategic Programme Innovations and Transformation, adding “WFP’s priority is to support the government to achieve its food and nutrition security targets by sustainably transforming food systems through initiatives that improve food production, postharvest management practices and access to improved storage solutions for farming families.”
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Story
05 November 2022
Zambia-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Launched
Her Honour the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, Mrs. W.K. Mutale Nalumango, on 4 November 2022 launched the Government of Zambia-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, that defines United Nations support to Zambia’s development for the period 2023-2027. The Cooperation Framework is aimed at supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering the 2030 Agenda in an integrated manner, as well as to support the country’s development priorities as outlined in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP).
The Cooperation Framework was co-signed by Her Honour the Vice President on behalf of the Zambian Government and by Ms Mutali on behalf of the United Nations System in Zambia.
The German Ambassador to Zambia H.E. Anne Wagner-Mitchell represented the Cooperating Partners Group, and emphasized the importance of this historic ceremony, as well as the UN Reform.
Speaking at the ceremony, that was witnessed by over 300 guests that included Government officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Heads of UN Agencies and staff, Civil Society, and the media, the Vice President noted continued commitment by the United Nations in the improvement of the lives of the Zambian people and the value of the Cooperation Framework in the country’s development.
“The Zambian people value the support and partnership of the United Nations towards Zambia’s development agenda. This new Cooperation Framework is welcome because it will complement Zambia’s development agenda as contained in the recently launched Eight National Development Plan,” said Mrs Nalumango.
The Vice President also called on both the Zambian Government and the United Nations to ensure successful implementation of the Cooperation Framework.
For her part, Ms Mutali underscored the importance of ownership and partnership to ensure the success of the Cooperation Framework.
“The Cooperation Framework does not belong to the United Nations. It is a joint commitment by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the United Nations to work in close partnership, with the support of cooperating partners and other key stakeholders, including civil society, to contribute to ensuring better lives for the people of Zambia,” she said.
Through the work of 23 UN agencies in Zambia, the new Cooperation Framework will provide interventions across four pillars, namely Prosperity, People, Peace, and Planet which align to the four strategic Priority Areas of the 8NDP. It will be implemented based on the core principles on the United Nations which are Leaving no One Behind, Human Rights, Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment, sustainability and Resilience and Accountability.
The Cooperation Framework was formulated through a consultative process with the involvement of UN agencies, Government, Civil Society, Private Sector, Development Partners, Academia, Trade Unions, and Regional Bodies, among other stakeholders.
In the spirit of Leaving No One Behind, several groups were also extensively consulted which included the youth, women, refugees, former refugees, immediate host communities, migrants, Persons with Disabilities, People Living with HIV/AIDS and key populations, among others.
Implemented following UN General Assembly resolution 72/279, the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework is a strategic, medium-term results framework that describes the collective vision in support of national development priorities and results.
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Story
30 October 2022
UN Zambia Staff, Family and Friends Hold Awareness Walk to Celebrate UN Day
As part of the 77th UN Day commemoration, UN Zambia Resident Coordinator Ms Beatrice Mutali, with Heads of Agencies, on 29 October led 550 staff, family members and friends on a 3.9 kilometres Awareness Walk in Lusaka to share information about the work of the United Nations. The walk was also meant to promote Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 3 of Good Health and Wellbeing.
The walk, which the Resident Coordinator flagged off from the UN House, terminated at East Park Mall where free public health checks were provided by a team of UN medical personnel and partner institutions as well as a UN Job Fair by the UN Zambia Human Resource Technical Working Group. Hundreds of members of the public, including youth, had the opportunity to learn about how to apply for jobs and volunteering opportunities in the UN, both at home and abroad. Human Resource officers from several UN agencies emphasized that the UN is an equal opportunity employer and that it does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.
Members of the public are invited to East Park mall and have one on one discussions with members of the human resource team who will be discussing how to apply for jobs in the United Nations. There will also be free health checks conducted by UN medical team and its partners.
The United Nations in Zambia remains committed to supporting Zambia’s development aspirations, leaving no one behind.
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Story
24 October 2022
Zambia and the United Nations: a solid partnership to improve the lives of the most vulnerable leaving no one behind
October is a very auspicious month for both the Republic of Zambia and the United Nations (UN). On the 24th of this month, the country celebrates 58 years of independence, while the UN marks 77 years since its founding on 24 October 1945.
On the ashes of the Second World War, 51 countries came together and declared that there had been enough destruction and loss of human life occasioned by the fighting. Meeting in San Francisco from April to June 1945, they wrote the UN Charter that established the organization with the common goal of working together to prevent wars and to make the world a better and safer place for future generations.
Seventy-seven years later, the United Nations has become an organization consisting of 193 Member States with the last country to join being the Republic of South Sudan in 2011. All countries, large and small, rich and poor, with differing political views and social systems, have a voice and a vote at the UN General Assembly. The organization has continued to make the world a better place with fewer conflicts and massive humanitarian support benefiting millions of people every day.
In Zambia, the UN started its operations in the early days following Zambia’s independence and ever since it has delivered developmental and humanitarian support, particularly, through the joint activities targeted at building a stronger and democratic country where all people enjoy their human rights.
Since then, the UN System in Zambia which comprises 23 agencies supported by over 800 committed staff, delivering as one, has been working tirelessly, hand in hand with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, cooperating and implementing partners to ensure sustainability, and has invested considerable efforts in developing national capacities to lead reforms, implement new laws and strategies to improve the lives of all people living in Zambia.
In the last two years, despite huge challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous efforts were made to support the country’s priorities.
With the financial and technical support from the UN System and partners, the Government developed the COVID-19 Resurgence Plan which reintroduced public health and social measures aimed at controlling transmission and mitigating severe illnesses and deaths, as well as the socio-economic impact. A COVID-19 Recovery Needs Assessment plan was also developed to assess the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic as a basis for ensuring innovative partnerships and financing opportunities to support the implementation of the national development plans, including the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP).
Through the COVAX facility, the UN supported the Government to access the COVID-19 vaccines and promoted vaccination uptake through Risk Communication and Community Engagement messages and activities. Over six million people across all 10 provinces of Zambia were reached with key prevention and vaccine promotion messages. Thanks to all collective efforts, about 70 per cent of the population is now fully vaccinated, meeting the national target that was set to be achieved by the end of 2022.
Now that we have passed the worst of the pandemic, the Government of the Republic of Zambia with the UN and the support of partners continue to address its socio-economic impacts, working jointly to alleviate household poverty through the implementation of the National Social Protection Policy. It is expected that 1.3 million beneficiaries will be reached by the end of 2023.
The country is making remarkable efforts to improve the lives of its population. Recently, during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) held in New York in September, the President of Zambia, His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema participated in the Transforming Education Summit and presented the national commitment to elevate education to the top of the global agenda. Further, the President shared the steps Zambia has taken to make education free and accessible to all, stressing that an educated population was essential for economic development and that young people should be kept in school and supported to develop skills.
In addition, the Government recently presented the 2023 National Budget, which includes a substantial increase of more than 30 per cent in the social sector. About 3,000 new health personnel and 4,500 teachers will be recruited, and new health facilities, early childhood centres and schools will be constructed, to cite a few examples.
As we celebrate this year’s UN Day, we remain committed to continue our support to Zambia's development. The collaboration between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the UN will be guided by the 2023-2027 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework which will be officially signed and launched this month. Fully aligned to the 8th National Development Plan, the Cooperation Framework represents a joint commitment by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the UN System to work in close partnership to achieve national priorities guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international human and labour rights commitments. We look forward to working with the Government and all stakeholders to ensure transformative change in Zambia, leaving no one behind.
This is more urgent than ever as we only have eight years before the year 2030 by which we should have all made progress on the SDGs. Happy independence Zambia, Happy UN anniversary!
To learn more about the UN, visit zambia.un.org and www.un.org.
The author is Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Zambia.
The author is Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Zambia.
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Press Release
25 January 2023
Zambia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review
Zambia is one of the States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session from 23 January to 3 February. Zambia’s first, second and third UPR reviews took place in May 2008, October 2012 and November 2017, respectively.
The documents on which the reviews are based re: 1) national report - information provided by the State under review; 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; 3) information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations, and civil society groups.
The three reports serving as the basis for the review of Zambia on 30 January can be found here.
Location: Room 20, Palais des Nations, Geneva
Time and date: 14:30–18:00, Monday, 30 January 2023 (Geneva time, GMT +1 hour)
The UPR is a unique process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Since its first meeting was held in April 2008, all 193 UN member States have been reviewed thrice within the first, second and third UPR cycles. During the fourth UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous review,s which they committed to follow up on, and highlight recent human rights developments in the country.
The delegation of Zambia will be led by the Honourable Mr. Mulambo Haimbe, SC, MP, Minister of Justice.
The three country representatives serving as rapporteurs (“troika”) for the review of Zambia are Sudan, the United States of America and Montenegro.
The webcast of the session will be at https://media.un.org/en/search/categories/meetings-events/human-rights-council
The list of speakers and all available statements to be delivered during the review of Zambia will be posted on the UPR Extranet.
The UPR Working Group is scheduled to adopt the recommendations made to Zambia at 16:30 on 3 February. The State under review may wish to express its positions on recommendations posed to it during its review.
For more information and media requests, please contact Rolando Gómez, HRC Media Officer, at rolando.gomez@un.org, Matthew Brown, HRC Public Information Officer, at matthew.brown@un.org, or Pascal Sim, HRC Public Information Officer, at simp@un.org.
To learn more about the Universal Periodic Review, visit https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-main.
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Press Release
29 November 2022
Inequalities are blocking the end of the AIDS pandemic, say UN
UNAIDS set out earlier this year that the AIDS response is in danger—with rising new infections and continuing deaths in many parts of the world. Now, a new report from UNAIDS shows that inequalities are the underlying reason why. It shows how world leaders can tackle those inequalities, and calls on them to be courageous to follow what the evidence reveals.
Dangerous Inequalities unpacks the impact on the AIDS response of gender inequalities, of inequalities faced by key populations, and of inequalities between children and adults. It sets out how worsening financial constraints are making it more difficult to address those inequalities.
The report shows how gender inequalities and harmful gender norms are holding back the end of the AIDS pandemic.
“The world will not be able defeat AIDS while reinforcing patriarchy,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “We need to address the intersecting inequalities women face. In areas of high HIV burden, women subjected to intimate partner violence face up to a 50% higher chance of acquiring HIV. Across 33 countries from 2015-2021 only 41% of married women aged 15-24 could make their own decisions on sexual health. The only effective route map to ending AIDS, achieving the sustainable development goals and ensuring health, rights and shared prosperity, is a feminist route map. Women’s rights organizations and movements are already on the frontlines doing this bold work. Leaders need to support them and learn from them.”
The effects of gender inequalities on women’s HIV risks are especially pronounced in sub- Saharan Africa, where women accounted for 63% of new HIV infections in 2021.
Adolescent girls and young women (aged 15 to 24 years) are three times more likely to acquire HIV than adolescent boys and young men of the same age group in sub-Saharan Africa. The driving factor is power. One study showed that enabling girls to stay in school until they complete secondary education reduces their vulnerability to HIV infection by up to 50%. When this is reinforced with a package of empowerment support, girls’ risks are reduced even further. Leaders need to ensure all girls are in school, are protected from violence which is often normalized including through underage marriages, and have economic pathways that guarantee them a hopeful future.
By interrupting the power dynamics, policies can reduce girls’ vulnerability to HIV.
Harmful masculinities are discouraging men from seeking care. While 80% of women living with HIV were accessing treatment in 2021, only 70% of men were on treatment. Increasing gender- transformative programming in many parts of the world is key to halting the pandemic. Advancing gender equality will benefit everyone.
2 0 3 0 | E n d i n g t h e A I D S e p i d e m i c
The report shows that the AIDS response is being held back by inequalities in access to treatment between adults and children. While over three quarters of adults living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy, just over half of children living with HIV are on the lifesaving medicine. This has had deadly consequences. In 2021, children accounted for only 4% of all people living with HIV but 15% of all AIDS-related deaths. Closing the treatment gap for children will save lives.
Discrimination against, stigmatization and criminalization of key populations are costing lives and preventing the world from achieving agreed AIDS targets.
New analysis shows no significant decline in new infections among gay men and other men who have sex with men in both the western and central Africa and eastern and southern Africa regions. Facing an infectious virus, failure to make progress on key populations undermines the entire AIDS response and helps explain slowing progress.
Around the world, over 68 countries still criminalize same sex sexual relations. Another analysis highlighted in the report found that gay men and other men who have sex with men who live in African countries with the most repressive laws are more than three times less likely to know their HIV status than their counterparts living in countries with the least repressive laws, where progress as far more rapid. Sex workers who live in countries where sex work is criminalized have a 7 times greater chance to be living with HIV than in countries where sex work is legal or partially legalized.
The report shows progress against inequalities is possible and highlights areas where the AIDS response has made remarkable progress. For example, while surveys among key populations often highlight lower service coverage among key populations, three counties in Kenya have achieved higher HIV treatment coverage among female sex workers than among the general population of women (aged 15-49 years). This has been helped by strong HIV programming over many years, including community-led services.
“We know what to do to end inequalities,” said Ms Byanyima. “Ensure that all of our girls are in school, safe and strong. Tackle gender based violence. Support women’s organisations. Promote healthy masculinities—to take the place of the harmful behaviours which exacerbate risks for everyone. Ensure services for children living with HIV reach them and meet their needs, closing the treatment gap so that we end AIDS in children for good. Decriminalize people in same-sex relationships, sex workers, and people who use drugs, and invest in community-led services that enable their inclusion — this will help break down barriers to services and care for millions of people.”
The new report shows donor funding is helping catalyse increased domestic funding: increases in external HIV funding for countries from PEPFAR and the Global Fund during 2018-2021 were correlated with increases in domestic funding from a majority of national governments. New investments to address HIV-related inequalities are urgently needed. At a moment when international solidarity and a surge of funding is most needed, too many high-income countries are cutting back aid for global health. In 2021, funding available for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries was US$ 8 billion short. Increasing donor support is vital to getting the AIDS response back on track.
Budgets need to prioritize the health and well-being of all people, especially vulnerable populations that are most affected by HIV-related inequalities. Fiscal space for health investments in low- and middle-income countries needs to be expanded, including through substantial debt cancellation and through progressive taxation. Ending AIDS is far less expensive than not ending AIDS.
In 2021, 650 000 people were lost to AIDS and 1.5 million people newly acquired HIV.
“What world leaders need to do is crystal clear,” said Ms Byanyima. “In one word: Equalize. Equalize access to rights, equalize access to services, equalize access to the best science and medicine. Equalizing will not only help the marginalised. It will help everyone.”
[ENDS]
Contact
UNAIDS | Sophie Barton Knott | tel. +41 79 514 6896 | bartonknotts@unaids.org
UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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Press Release
05 November 2022
Zambia-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Launched
Her Honour the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia,
Mrs. W.K. Mutale Nalumango, today launched the Government of Zambia-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, that defines United Nations support to Zambia’s development for the period 2023-2027. The Cooperation Framework is aimed at supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering the 2030 Agenda in an integrated manner, as well as to support the country’s development priorities as outlined in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP). The Cooperation Framework was co-signed by Her Honour the Vice President on behalf of the Zambian Government and by Ms Mutali on behalf of the United Nations System in Zambia. The German Ambassador to Zambia H.E. Anne Wagner-Mitchell represented the Cooperating Partners Group, and emphasized the importance of this historic ceremony, as well as the UN Reform. Speaking at the ceremony, that was witnessed by over 300 guests that included Government officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Heads of UN Agencies and staff, Civil Society, and the media, the Vice President noted continued commitment by the United Nations in the improvement of the lives of the Zambian people and the value of the Cooperation Framework in the country’s development. “The Zambian people value the support and partnership of the United Nations towards Zambia’s development agenda. This new Cooperation Framework is welcome because it will complement Zambia’s development agenda as contained in the recently launched Eight National Development Plan,” said Mrs Nalumango. The Vice President also called on both the Zambian Government and the United Nations to ensure successful implementation of the Cooperation Framework. For her part, Ms Mutali underscored the importance of ownership and partnership to ensure the success of the Cooperation Framework. “The Cooperation Framework does not belong to the United Nations. It is a joint commitment by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the United Nations to work in close partnership, with the support of cooperating partners and other key stakeholders, including civil society, to contribute to ensuring better lives for the people of Zambia,” she said. Through the work of 23 UN agencies in Zambia, the new Cooperation Framework will provide interventions across four pillars, namely Prosperity, People, Peace, and Planet which align to the four strategic Priority Areas of the 8NDP. It will be implemented based on the core principles on the United Nations which are Leaving no One Behind, Human Rights, Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment, sustainability and Resilience and Accountability. The Cooperation Framework was formulated through a consultative process with the involvement of UN agencies, Government, Civil Society, Private Sector, Development Partners, Academia, Trade Unions, and Regional Bodies, among other stakeholders. In the spirit of Leaving No One Behind, several groups were also extensively consulted which included the youth, women, refugees, former refugees, immediate host communities, migrants, Persons with Disabilities, People Living with HIV/AIDS and key populations, among others. Implemented following UN General Assembly resolution 72/279, the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework is a strategic, medium-term results framework that describes the collective vision in support of national development priorities and results.
Mrs. W.K. Mutale Nalumango, today launched the Government of Zambia-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, that defines United Nations support to Zambia’s development for the period 2023-2027. The Cooperation Framework is aimed at supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering the 2030 Agenda in an integrated manner, as well as to support the country’s development priorities as outlined in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP). The Cooperation Framework was co-signed by Her Honour the Vice President on behalf of the Zambian Government and by Ms Mutali on behalf of the United Nations System in Zambia. The German Ambassador to Zambia H.E. Anne Wagner-Mitchell represented the Cooperating Partners Group, and emphasized the importance of this historic ceremony, as well as the UN Reform. Speaking at the ceremony, that was witnessed by over 300 guests that included Government officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Heads of UN Agencies and staff, Civil Society, and the media, the Vice President noted continued commitment by the United Nations in the improvement of the lives of the Zambian people and the value of the Cooperation Framework in the country’s development. “The Zambian people value the support and partnership of the United Nations towards Zambia’s development agenda. This new Cooperation Framework is welcome because it will complement Zambia’s development agenda as contained in the recently launched Eight National Development Plan,” said Mrs Nalumango. The Vice President also called on both the Zambian Government and the United Nations to ensure successful implementation of the Cooperation Framework. For her part, Ms Mutali underscored the importance of ownership and partnership to ensure the success of the Cooperation Framework. “The Cooperation Framework does not belong to the United Nations. It is a joint commitment by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the United Nations to work in close partnership, with the support of cooperating partners and other key stakeholders, including civil society, to contribute to ensuring better lives for the people of Zambia,” she said. Through the work of 23 UN agencies in Zambia, the new Cooperation Framework will provide interventions across four pillars, namely Prosperity, People, Peace, and Planet which align to the four strategic Priority Areas of the 8NDP. It will be implemented based on the core principles on the United Nations which are Leaving no One Behind, Human Rights, Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment, sustainability and Resilience and Accountability. The Cooperation Framework was formulated through a consultative process with the involvement of UN agencies, Government, Civil Society, Private Sector, Development Partners, Academia, Trade Unions, and Regional Bodies, among other stakeholders. In the spirit of Leaving No One Behind, several groups were also extensively consulted which included the youth, women, refugees, former refugees, immediate host communities, migrants, Persons with Disabilities, People Living with HIV/AIDS and key populations, among others. Implemented following UN General Assembly resolution 72/279, the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework is a strategic, medium-term results framework that describes the collective vision in support of national development priorities and results.
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Press Release
21 September 2022
Heads of State commit to Noncommunicable Disease Global Compact to save 50 million lives by 2030
Michael R. Bloomberg reappointed as WHO Global Ambassador of Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries
New Gallup survey indicates strong global support for policies outlined in WHO report to combat growing public health burden of noncommunicable diseases
Today, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, launched a new report calling on global leaders to take urgent action on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for 17 million premature deaths every year.
To accelerate action Dr Tedros renewed the two-year appointment of Michael R. Bloomberg as WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. This is Bloomberg’s third reappointment as Ambassador, having first been appointed to the role in 2016.
The announcement came at the first annual gathering of a Heads of State and Government Group for the Prevention of NCDs, led by the President of Ghana and the Prime Minister of Norway, held during the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This follows the launch of a Global NCD Compact earlier this year by Ghana and Norway.
To mark the occasion, WHO released a new report, “Invisible Numbers: The true scale of noncommunicable diseases,” and a data portal that for the first time, brings together all WHO data related to NCDs for 194 countries. The report and portal highlight the extent of global NCD burden, risk factors, and the progress each country is making in their efforts to combat these diseases and conditions. Every two seconds, someone under 70 somewhere in the world dies of an NCD. Noncommunicable diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and lung disease now outnumber infectious disease as the top killers globally.
“This report is a reminder of the true scale of the threat posed by NCDs and their risk factors,” said Dr Tedros. “There are cost-effective and globally applicable NCD interventions that every country, no matter its income level, can and should be using and benefitting from – saving lives and saving money. I thank President Afuko-Addo, Prime Minister Støre and Michael Bloomberg for their leadership and vision in addressing this major global health issue.”
Bloomberg’s reappointment comes at a critical juncture for public health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people living with NCDs faced worse outcomes than those without. Today, Gallup released a new survey commissioned by WHO and Bloomberg Philanthropies that found most respondents in five surveyed countries – including Colombia, India, Jordan, the United Republic of Tanzania and the United States of America rank an NCD or NCD risk factor as the biggest health problem in their country.
The public’s awareness of the links between NCDs and their risk factors such, as tobacco and alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity, is low. Yet, the majority of people surveyed across all countries support a wide number of proven interventions and policies that can reduce deaths from NCDs, such as incorporating more green spaces in urban health design and increasing taxes on tobacco.
“As we continue to respond to this pandemic and prepare for the next, we have seen the critical importance of addressing a major risk factor in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths – noncommunicable diseases,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. “Noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and cancer are the world’s biggest silent killers – but they can often be prevented with investment in proven, cost-effective interventions. I look forward to continuing to make life-saving investments in NCD and injury prevention alongside Dr Tedros and the WHO.”
As WHO Global Ambassador, Bloomberg will continue to support global, national, and local efforts to protect people from NCDs and injuries. This work also advances the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3.4) target to reduce the global number of NCD deaths by one-third through high-impact, population-level policies and programmes implemented in cities across the world.
NCDs cause nearly three-quarters of deaths worldwide. Every year, 17 million people under the age of 70 die of NCDs, 86 percent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the NCD burden by delaying and disrupting care, and in the early months of the pandemic, 75 percent of countries reported disruption to essential NCD services because of lockdown restrictions and channelling of resources. While every Member State of the United Nations has committed to reducing premature death from NCDs by one-third by 2030 – an effort that could save millions of lives – few countries are currently on track to achieve it. Urgent global efforts are needed to get back on track to reach Sustainable Development Goal targets and reduce premature deaths from NCDs.
About the World Health Organization
The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States, across six regions and from more than 150 offices, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. By connecting countries, people and partners, we strive to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance at a safe and healthy life.
About Michael Bloomberg’s work in public health
An international leader on public health issues, Bloomberg’s investments in public health include major, life-saving initiatives to reduce tobacco and youth e-cigarette use through over $1 billion in investments, support healthy food policy, reduce drowning, and improve road safety and maternal health, among others. In 2016, he launched the American Health Initiative at Johns Hopkins University to tackle declining life expectancy in the United States, and in 2017, started the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of 70 cities committed to reducing noncommunicable diseases and injuries. Recently, Bloomberg Philanthropies invested an additional $115 million in global public health nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives – bringing its total investment to $215 million – to continue preventing deaths from heart disease.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 941 cities and 173 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health.
Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2021, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.66 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org
Media contacts:
Jaimie Guerra, Communications Officer
WHO, Mobile: +41 79 475 5536, Email: guerraja@who.int Jean Weinberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Email: jean@bloomberg.org
WHO, Mobile: +41 79 475 5536, Email: guerraja@who.int Jean Weinberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Email: jean@bloomberg.org
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Press Release
22 July 2022
African leaders launch the Education Plus initiative – a huge step forward for girls’ education and empowerment in Africa
Leaders meeting at the Africa Union summit in Lusaka, Zambia, have pledged their support for the Education Plus initiative at its continental launch, committing to take action to keep adolescent girls in school, which will dramatically reduce their vulnerability to HIV.
Every week, around 4200 adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa acquire HIV. In 2020, six in seven adolescents aged between 15—19 years old acquiring HIV in the region were girls. More than 23000 young women died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2020, making it the second leading cause of death among women aged 15—29 after maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
Keeping girls in secondary school and providing them with life skills, training and employment opportunities is key to ending the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Research shows that ensuring that girls complete secondary education reduces their risk of acquiring HIV by up to half, and that combining this with a package of services and rights for girls’ empowerment reduces their risk further still.
Education Plus calls for free and quality secondary education for all girls and boys in sub-Saharan Africa by 2025; universal access to comprehensive sexuality education; fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights; freedom from gender-based and sexual violence; school-to-work transitions, and economic security and empowerment.
“My government has committed to the provision of free primary and secondary education for all,” said President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, who hosted the summit. “Education is the greatest equalizer and with appropriate education, everyone is given an opportunity to explore their full potential and be able to participate in the development process. Access to education empowers both girls and boys as it enhances their ability to access decent jobs and other means of production thus alleviating poverty.”
The President of Senegal and current chair of the African Union, Macky Sall, launched the initiative flanked by three other presidents and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.
“It is my pleasure to join you on the occasion of the ceremony to launch the continental “Education Plus Initiative” under the leadership of the Organisation of African First Ladies (OAFLAD) in support to children and young girls in particular,” said President Sall. “There is need for action to promote women’s rights and autonomy, to fight against the discrimination and violence which girls and women face. We must address gender inequality at all stages of life. At the continental level, AU Member States are committed to accelerating the implementation of gender-specific economic, social, and legal measures aimed at combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic by adopting various policy and legal frameworks including the Maputo Protocol.”
The launch was held in partnership with the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, convened by the First Lady of Zambia, Mutinta Hichilema.
“I am confident that Education Plus will enable us all to protect, provide and preserve the lives of adolescent girls and young women by enhancing education standards and preventing new HIV infections by use of various interventions,” said Ms Hichilema.
“We lend our voice to the transformative call for gender-inclusive education in Africa,” said Leyla Gozo, Executive Secretary of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, “First ladies are uniquely positioned to amplify this initiative.”
The Education Plus initiative has taken on even greater urgency as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed millions of girls out of school. Even before the pandemic, almost 34 million adolescent girls aged 12—17 years old in the sub-Saharan Africa region were not in secondary school. Evidence also shows that girls are less likely to restart school once they have dropped out.
Ten African countries – Benin, Cameroon, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Uganda – have so far committed to the initiative which is jointly convened by five United Nations agencies, UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women, and brings together governments, civil society and international partners.
“We are making progress in Africa but not fast enough,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima in her address to the launch. “We need to urgently address the gender inequalities that still plague the continent, with devastating impacts on poor girls and young women. We don’t have a minute to wait. Working together, we can all end discriminatory laws and harmful social norms, so that our girls are healthy, educated and empowered and can lead our continent, Africa, forward.”
UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
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