Signing of the FAO Country Programming Framework (2022-2027) with Government

• Minister of Agriculture – Honourable Reuben Mtolo, MP
• Minister of Fisheries and Livestock – Honourable Makozo Chikote (MP)
• The Permanent Secretary - Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Green Mbozi
• The Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Dr. Anna Songolo
• The Permanent Secretary - Ministry of Green Economy and Environment,
  
  Mr. John Msimuko
• The Permanent Secretary - Community Development and Social Services, Ms Angela Chomba Kawandami
• Directors, Senior Government Officials and Institutional Heads present
• The FAO Country Representative, Mrs Suze-Percy Filippini
• Colleagues from UN Agencies
• Members of the Press, ladies and Gentlemen

It is my honour and privilege to address you all at this signing ceremony for the Country Programming Framework (CPF) - 2023 to 2027 of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with Government.

Let me begin by thanking all of you here this morning for taking the time to be part of this very important event for FAO, the United Nations System and indeed with the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

It is with much pleasure to note that after rigorous consultations with the Government and other relevant stakeholders, this Country Programing Framework has finally been developed and is being endorsed today. This document was derived from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework also known as the Cooperation Framework, that was signed between the UN and the Government and subsequently launched on 4 November 2022.

As part of UN Reform as endorsed by UN members states, the UN Country Team adopted use of the Cooperation Framework as the primary instrument for planning and implementation of the UN development activities at country level in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I am happy to note that the Cooperation Framework adheres to key programming principles that include human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, sustainability and resilience and accountability.

Honourable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, the UN in Zambia, Delivering as One, has aligned the Cooperation Framework with the Government’s 8th National Development Plan (8NDP) to demonstrate its commitment to supporting government efforts in the development agenda and responding to the country’s priorities. FAO, in collaboration with all stakeholders, made a considerable investment in terms of resources and time to prepare the Country Programming Framework (CPF) being signed today.

I note with gratitude, that among the notable partners that played a critical role in the CPF development includes the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, among others.

As the UN’s specialized agency that leads international efforts to end hunger, achieve food security for all, and ensure that people have regular access to adequate nutritious food to lead active and healthy lives, FAO can only achieve this with the involvement of partners. I am confident that through this CPF, FAO will on behalf of the UN family, deliver its commitment on technical support to the Government and other none-state actors as specified in the Results Framework. As indicated by the FAO Country Representative, the 46 Million United States Dollars budget of the CPF is part of the total 900 Million United States Dollars budget of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027.

In line with UN Reform, my office will continue playing a coordination role among the 23 UN agencies that are part of implementation of our Cooperation Framework for the next five years. We will leverage the strengths and specialised mandates of the agencies in meeting our commitments as the UN to Government of Zambia.

As I close, let me congratulate FAO and the Government of Zambia on the endorsement of this Country Programme Framework to guide our joint work from 2023 to 2027. I look forward to receiving regular progress reports that my office will feed into the global UN online planning, monitoring and reporting platform to highlight our work in Zambia.

I Thank you.