Stakeholders Meet to Validate the UN Zambia Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023-2027

On 9 June 2022, representatives from Zambian Government ministries and other stakeholders that included Civil Society, quasi-government institutions, academia, private sector, people living with disabilities and youth organisations convened in Lusaka under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the United Nations in Zambia to validate the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for support to Zambia for the period 2023-2027. In total, about200 people participated in this hybrid event.

The UNSDCF or Cooperation Framework is a UN programming document that will guide support by the UN in Zambia over the next five years in line with Zambia’s development priorities as contained in the 8th National Development Plan. It is a product of a highly inclusive, consultative process with a wide range of stakeholders under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. The process included engagements on the Common Country Analysis (CCA), which is an impartial, collective and independent analysis that helped the UN to determine its priorities for the next programming cycle.

Speaking at the validation workshop, Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary for Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Trevor Kaunda underscored the importance of the Cooperation Framework in helping Zambia meets its development priorities.

And speaking on behalf of the UN system in Zambia, Mr. Lionel Laurens, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, called for partnerships in implementation of the Cooperation Framework.

“Implementation of the Cooperation Framework during the next five years is key in contributing to the desired positive impact and transformational changes. There is a need for strong collaboration, reinvigorated partnerships and joint efforts for fruitful synergies from all key stakeholders if the Cooperation Framework is to achieve its intended objectives,” said Mr. Laurens. 

A similar consultative meeting was on 7 June held with Cooperating Partners who shared their perspectives and expectations on UN support from 2023-2027. Input from participants will be used to finalise the Cooperation Framework and thus ensure that it addresses major national priorities and contribute significantly towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Agenda 2030. The Cooperation Framework is expected to be launched shortly.

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For more information, please contact:

Mark Maseko, National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lusaka, P: +260-211-386200; E: masekom@un.org