quarterly newsletter delegation of the european … · 2018-09-10 · 2 the views expressed in this...

1 The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA April - June 2018

EDITORIAL BY AMBASSADOR ALESSANDRO MARIANI

During the 2nd quarter of this year the European Union and Zambia held their annual political dialogue focusing on their comprehensive partnership. A variety of subjects, including foreign policy issues, development relations, European Union internal affairs, Zambian internal affairs, trade and investments and climate change were on the agenda. The dialogue was fruitful and held in a cordial atmosphere with the participation of ministers and EU Heads of Missions.

In this newsletter we document the signature of two new important development cooperation agreements for a total amount exceeding 100 million Euro (1.2 billion kwacha) grants: (i) EU support to the Sustainable Commercialisation of Zambia’s Smallholder Farmers with a 87 million Euro grant (approx. 1 billion Kwacha); (ii) EU support to Improve Public Finance Management in Zambia with a 17 million Euro grant (approx. 200 million Kwacha).

Like in previous years, time and energies were invested in a number of public diplomacy events organised around the 9th of May (i.e.: Europe Day) in close association with the EU Member States. The EU (EU Member States plus EU Delegation) participated at the Agritech Expo in Chisamba. The pavilions of EU MS illustrated the excellent technological offers from private companies while the EU pavilion was focused on agriculture policy and development relations in the sector. The EU and its Member States were amongst the main sponsors of the Lusaka Arts Festival. The EU organised the 2018 EU Walk and Run with double the number of participants compared to the previous year. We also organised in close collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs), which work with EU and EU Member States, a CSO Carnival showcasing their laudable, highly effective, activities country-wide. A climate change forum, organised by Sweden, completed the program. A big thanks goes to all our partners and the media for their very valuable contributions.

TABLE OF CONTENT

EU – ZAMBIA PARTNERSHIP

I. POLITICAL DIALOGUE

II. EU SIGNS EUR 17 MILLION FINANCING

AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN ZAMBIA

III. NUTRITION SUMMIT

IV. EU SUPPORT TO RATIONAL DRUG USE

EU – COMESA PARTNERSHIP

I. DELEGATION AGREEMENT OF THE EUR 13.5

MILLION GRANTS CROSS-BORDER TRADE

INITIATIVE

EU MONTH

I. EU SIGNS FINANCING AGREEMENT OF THE

"SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIALISATION OF

ZAMBIA'S SMALLHOLDER FARMERS"

II. EU WALK/RUN

III. LUSAKA ARTS FESTIVAL

IV. EUROPE DAY

V. EU CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS FAIR

VI. CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM

VOICES FROM THE FIELD

I. SCALING UP NUTRITION INTERVENTIONS AT

COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT LEVELS (SUNI)

PROJECT


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EU – ZAMBIA PARTNERSHIP

Political Dialogue

The annual EU-Zambia Political Dialogue meeting took

place on Friday 27 April in Lusaka in a cordial and fruitful

atmosphere. The Ambassador of the European Union, H.E.

Alessandro Mariani, stated that "thanks to many years of

close collaboration, the EU was proud to describe the EU-

Zambia relations as a 360 degree partnership". Indeed, the

agenda of the meeting covered a wide variety of subjects

including, foreign policy issues, development relations,

European Union internal affairs, Zambia internal policies

including governance issues and human rights, trade and

investment relations including European investments in

Zambia as well as the African Continental Free Trade

Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreement, and

climate change.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Joseph Malanji led the

Zambian Government delegation composed of several

ministers (Minister of Justice, Hon. Given Lubinda, Minister

in the Office of the Vice President, Hon. Sylvia Bambala

Chalikosa MP, Minister of Energy, Hon. Mathew Nkhuwa,

Minister of Agriculture, Hon.Micheal Katambo, Minister of

Information, Hon. Dora Siliya, Minister of Gender, Hon.

Victoria Kalima), as well as senior government officials

from various Ministries.

The European Union was represented by the Ambassador

of the European Union to Zambia and COMESA, and the

Ambassadors/High Commissioners and Deputy

Ambassadors from 9 EU Member States (Czech Republic,

Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Sweden

and the United Kingdom.)

The European Union signed a EUR 17 million Financing

Agreement to improve public financial management in

Zambia

On 11th April 2018 the European Union and the

Government of the Republic of Zambia signed a EUR 17

million grant agreement (equivalent to slightly more than

200 million Kwacha) to help Zambia strengthening its

public finance management system.

The Programme on Effectiveness and Transparency in the

Management of Public Resources (EFFECT), will contribute

to the improvement of the planning, budgeting and budget

implementation capacities of the Government of Zambia,

as well as the capacities of the main oversight institutions-

the National Assembly, the Office of the Auditor General

and the Anti-Corruption Commission. It will also support

the Zambian Revenue Authority in its efforts to modernize

revenue collection processes so to ensure that the tax

system is simpler, the tax base expanded and the

compliance increased.

Funded under the 11th European Development Fund

(2014-2020), the program reflects the EU approach

“Collect more – spend better”, to reinforce governance,

raise revenue collection, improve the quality of spending

and strengthen fiscal transparency and accountability.

Through this ambitious and innovative action the EU will

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put at the disposal of Zambia the best expertise possible,

including from highly reputed institutions from European

Union Member States such as the Supreme Audit and the

Anti-Corruption institutions. As indicated by the

Ambassador of the European Union to Zambia and

COMESA, H.E. Alessandro Mariani during the signing

ceremony, “With political support, which is the most

important ingredient, this program can greatly contribute

to the strengthening of public finance management which

is in the supreme interest of the people of Zambia”.

Nutrition Summit

With support from the European Union and other partners

including UNICEF, the UK, Germany, Ireland and the Indaba

Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), the National

Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) organised a

Nutrition Summit in Lusaka from 24 to 26 April 2018.

Placed under the theme "Investing in Food and Nutrition

for Accelerated National Development – Walk the Talk for

Nutrition", the Summit was attended by more than 500

representatives from Government including the Vice

President, the Ministers of Health, Agriculture, Community

Development and General Education, Traditional

Leadership, the United Nations, including Ms. Gerda

Verburg, the UN Assistant General Secretary and Global

Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Coordinator, Cooperating

Partners, Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society,

Research Institutions and the Business Community.

Photo credit: IAPRI Photo Gallery Following three days of insightful presentations and

debates, participants came up with a Consensus Statement acknowledging adequate nutrition as a basic human right and recognising the need to urgently accelerate the reduction of malnutrition should Zambia wish to meet its national and global nutrition targets. At the request of Vice-President Inonge Wina, and as a direct follow up on the Nutrition Summit, an implementation roadmap was developed to actualise the provisions of this Statement. It was further presented to and approved by the Nutrition Committee of Permanent Secretaries. Last but not least, the Government of Zambia committed to increasing budget allocations for nutrition up to 400 Kwacha per child and per year to achieve country-wide coverage by 2015.

EU support to Rational Drug Use in the spotlight

Supporting the correct use of drugs by the people of

Zambia is one of the key strategic objectives pursued

under the EU-funded Health Systems Strengthening

Programme (HSSP).

The EU Delegation to Zambia sponsored and participated

in the 2018 edition of the Pharmacy Awareness Week

under the theme: "Strong Pharmaceutical Systems:

Improving Public Health Outcomes" organized by the

Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia. The Pharmacy

Awareness Week started on the 12th June.

Addressing a large audience of young pharmacists and

students, the EU Head of Cooperation Gianluca Azzoni

explained the partnership that ties the European Union

and the Government of Zambia in the health sector under

the shared goal of improving the health status of the

Zambian population: "Supporting efficient health and

pharmaceutical systems is also a key strategic objective of

our cooperation with the Government of Zambia. This is


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why we have invested nearly 210 Million Kwacha in the

ongoing Health Systems Strengthening Programme -

HSSP".

That evening, the EU Delegation also attended the

graduation ceremony for the 12 Zambian Masters in

Pharmaceutical Public Health which are also sponsored

under the HSSP.

This two year on-line Master's degree was implemented in

collaboration with the James Cook University of Australia.

This successful pilot initiative will increase the availability

of qualified health workers for the country as well as lead

to better health care services delivery and better

perspectives for rational drug use, all key strategic

objectives pursued under the National Health Strategic

Plan 2017-2021.

EU – COMESA PARTNERSHIP

Delegation Agreement of the EUR 13.5 million grants

Cross-Border Trade Initiative

On 8th May, the European Union and the Common Market

for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) signed the

Delegation Agreement of the EUR 13.5 million grants

Cross-Border Trade Initiative at the Mwami/Mchinji border

post. The informal or small-scale cross border trade

represents a substantial proportion of intra-regional trade

and is key for income generation, job creation and food

security for many poor households that would otherwise

be excluded from any economic activity.

As indicated by the Ambassador of the European Union to

Zambia and COMESA, H.E. Alessandro Mariani, this

Programme “will facilitate formal small-scale cross-border

trade flows through improved border management,

upgraded border infrastructures and better data collection

and monitoring. This will lead to increased security and

higher incomes for traders, as well as enhanced revenue

collection for governments at the borders”.

The strong commitment of the European Union to regional

integration and inclusive growth was also shared by the

other invited guests and members of the “trade family”:

the Ministers of Industry and Trade of the Republics of

Zambia and Malawi Hon. Christopher Yaluma and Hon.

Henry Mussa, the Secretary General of COMESA H.E.

Sindiso Ngwenya, the Ambassador of the European Union

to Malawi, H.E. Marchel Germann, and the Mayor of

Chipata Mr Sinoya Mwale.

EU MONTH

European Union signs the Financing Agreement of the

"Sustainable Commercialisation of Zambia's Smallholder

Farmers" at the EU Pavillon at the 2018 Agritech Expo in

Chisamba

On April 13 at the Agritech Expo in Chisamba, the

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Government of Zambia and the European Union signed the

87million Euro grant (equivalent to slightly more than 1

billion Kwacha) Financing Agreement of the "Sustainable

Commercialisation of Zambia's Smallholder Farmers"

Programme. The signature ceremony was witnessed by

President Edgar Lungu who honoured the EU Pavilion with

a visit for this special occasion.

This new programme will help farmers to graduate from

low productive agriculture towards more diversified and

market-oriented farming, while increasing their income

and improving their food and nutrition security. The

programme will promote new investments in agriculture

by easing the access to finance, services and inputs. The

European Union will also continue supporting conservation

agriculture and sustainable water management and

irrigation systems, as well as Zambia's efforts to curb the

high malnutrition prevalence through a contribution to the

Scaling-Up Nutrition Fund. As indicated by the Ambassador

of the European Union, H.E. Alessandro Mariani, "this

programme will go well beyond securing subsistence of the

rural poor. It will contribute to make agriculture a

profitable business for entrepreneurial smallholders".

EU Walk/Run

On Saturday 21st April, the EU Walk & Run 2018 took place

in Lusaka with a great success. Congratulations to all

participants, adults and children, runners and walkers -

with a big thank you to all the volunteers who did a

tremendous job to make this event a memorable day.

Lusaka Arts Festival

The first Lusaka Arts festival took place between the 2 to 5

May. The event closed on Saturday night with the EU

Variety Show with lots of talented artists of all disciplines

and ages on stage. On this occasion, the Ambassador of the

European Union, H.E. Alessandro Mariani, welcomed the

public to this event which is part of the #EuropeMonth,

and said "we, as European Union, agreed that it was

important to support directly this initiative to bring some

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European artists to Lusaka but also as a means to further

encourage the growth of the Arts in Zambia and allow a

new platform to be created where to exhibit one’s talent."

Our special thanks go also to the organisers and the Lusaka

International Community School (LICS) who did a fantastic

job in making this first edition a big success!

Europe Day

On the 9th of May, Europe Day was celebrated in Zambia

with a reception organised by the EU Delegation in a

friendly and festive atmosphere at the EU residence.

We welcomed the guest of honour, Hon. Matthew

Nkhuwa, Minister for Energy, Members of Parliament,

several members of the Government, Ambassadors and

High Commissioners, Representatives of International

Organisations, and lots of personalities from private sector

and civil society.

After having underlined the reasons why the European

Union is "indispensable", Ambassador Mariani focused on

the EU relations with Zambia and in particular our

partnership on human rights and the EU-Zambia Business

Club to promote investments.

EU Civil Society Organisations Fair

Thanks to the creativity and the engagement of more than

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40 civil society organisations, the EU CSO Carnival 2018,

which took place on Saturday 12 May, was a joyful and

interactive event that captured lots of public and media

attention!

Special thanks go also to EastPark Mall and its

management team for graciously allowing us to use the

mall as the venue for this important event, and to all

volunteers without whom this event would not have been

so successful!

Hon. Emerine Kabanshi, Minister for Community

Development and Social Welfare, and H.E. Alessandro

Mariani, Ambassador of the European Union, opened

officially the CSO Carnival. Ambassador Mariani reiterated

that supporting civil society is a crucial component of any

democratic system, and that the Carnival was one way of

showcasing the immense contributions of civil society in

their quest to empower, represent, and defend the

vulnerable and socially excluded in communities.

Climate Change Forum

On 7 and 8 June, a Climate Change Forum organised by the

Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka in partnership with the

European Union, the United Nations Development

Programme - UNDP Zambia, and the Ministry of Lands and

Natural Resources, took stock of the implementation of

Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and

showcased innovative mitigation and resilience initiatives.

During a session at the University of Zambia (UNZA),

Academia from UNZA and Copperbelt University presented

current climate change research topics. A lively discussion

with teachers and students debated “What are YOU doing

for the Climate?” #United4Climate

VOICES FROM THE FIELD

Scaling Up Nutrition Interventions at Community and

District Levels (SUNI) Project

Within the framework of its support to Civil Society

Organizations and Non State Actors, the European Union

Delegation is currently supporting four projects aiming at

reducing Zambia's maternal and child under-nutrition

through a multisector approach cutting across Health,

Agriculture and Water and Sanitation.

EU representatives recently visited one of them on the 9th

April, the "Scaling Up Nutrition Interventions at

Community and District Levels (SUNI) Project",

implemented by CARE Deutschland and the Programme

Against Malnutrition (PAM) in Kalomo and Choma districts.

During their field visit, EU representatives met with

Prudence Siadwala, a mother of two, who had brought

Princess, her 9-month-old second born, to the monthly

Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) session

supported by the SUNI Project in Kalonda ward, Kalomo

district. The girl was found moderately malnourished


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despite a small gain in weight since her last visit. This

recovery occurred after Prudence received from the SUNI

Project 5kg of beans that she had planted on the plot of

her community fellow, Mr Benson Miyoba. Prudence also

received nutrition education. She was taught how to

prepare nutritious food from locally available crops. As the

mother of a malnourished child, Prudence will receive

three goats on a pass on scheme together with guidance

on how to keep them well.

Prudence is happy with the support received: "Before I did

not know that my children were malnourished. Now I know

what malnutrition is and what can be done to prevent it.

Thanks to the seeds and cooking demonstrations, I can

feed my children with more healthy food. They are doing

better now. I can see it. They will do even better when we

receive the goats. I am very thankful to the EU".


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quarterly newsletter delegation of the european … · 2018-09-10 · 2 the views expressed in this...

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