By Happy Mulolani
THE government is determined to ameliorate the effects of poverty and climate change through various programmes.
Speaking at a regional conference on poverty reduction and climate resilience in Lusaka, Vice President Mutale Nalumango explained that economic growth can only be achieved through building resilience and also coming up with feasible solutions that directly address poverty and climate change.
“Government is passionate about improving livelihoods in the country amid the exacerbating climate change and poverty,” Dr Nalumango stated.
She pointed out that the government is committed to tackling poverty by allocating funds in the budget towards social protection programmes to empower communities.
She urged experts to offer solutions to address the dire effects of poverty and climate change, which has culminated in inequality.
And British High Commissioner Rebecca Terzeon commended Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute for their focus on evidence-based research, which is helping to inform policy formulation in the era of finding appropriate practical solutions in addressing poverty and climate change.
Ms Terzeon was optimistic that the development partners and experts will complement government’s efforts in finding amicable solutions to tackle poverty and climate change.
“There is a growing concern about the high poverty levels Africa is experiencing, with over 700,000 million people wallowing in poverty. Due to rising temperatures, it has led to floods and drought, which has affected most households,” she said.
She reiterated that the government has shown its commitment by initiating a new campaign aimed at reducing the stunting levels to 32 percent by 2030.
Such initiatives provide a glimmer of hope for the country’s quest to reduce poverty and climate change. For this to effectively happen, there is need for a multisectoral approach to improve livelihoods.
Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Angela Kawandami called on the heightened poverty and climate change deliberations of development partners to advance climate justice and focus on tackling poverty and also enhance sustainable development.
While, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute Executive Director Brian Mulenga said actionable and practical solutions were expected to emerge that would interrogate research conducted in Zambia and address poverty action and climate change and other shocks the country is experiencing.
Dr Mulenga expressed gratitude for the support from the Commonwealth office, and Ministry of Community Development and Services and other partners in ensuring that best practices are shared from different countries.
The outcome of this conference will culminate into the development of the Ninth National Development plan(9NDP).
The conference has drawn experts from different Southern African countries and is organised by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services with support from Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute, the Commonwealth Development, the Institute of Development Studies, Chronic Network Advisory Network, and SAIPAR.