Advocacy Activities in Zambia

Since any type of social assistance programmes are often quickly dismissed as handout without any longer-lasting effect on poverty reduction and growth, a lot of efforts are required to fight this misconception and create the necessary political and financial will.

Upcoming events

Members of Parliament Familiarization Workshop (August 2008)

This workshop is scheduled for the 2nd week of august 2008 and will target 100 members of parliament and will aim at creating increased awareness and support for the social cash transfer scheme as we approach the decision point of whether to turn the pilots into a national programme.

Social Protection Awareness Day (August 2008)

The Social Protection day facilitated by RHVP is aimed at show casing various Social Protection interventions being undertaken in Zambia and in the region. The event will bring together researchers, practitioners, policy makers and the general public exposing them to  the Social Protection concept and practice.

Social Protection Radio Programmes

These are a second round  in the series of radio programmes organized through RHVP, bringing together various players in the social protection sector to discuss various topics such as affordability, sustainability and appropriateness on a public fora with the aim of stimulating greater public debate on Social Protection.

Documentary on social cash transfers

The documentary portrays the social cash transfer scheme in Zambia and takes the viewer through the concept of cash transfers, the design in Zambia, the impact on beneficiary households, the challenges and the way forward.

Study tour for Members of Parliament

The study tour took place from September 24 - 25, 2007 to Southern Province where members of Parliament, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and the Department of Social Welfare of the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, were familiarized with the theory as well as practise of social cash transfers in Zambia. They went on a field trip to Nazilongo and Moonde in Kalomo district.

Sensitization Workshop with Ministry of Finance & other line ministries

This one day workshop took place on September 20, 2006 with representatives from the Ministry of Finance and other key ministries in order to discuss the concept as well as the Zambian experience with social protection and social cash transfers.

• Social protection and Zambia ’s pro growth agenda – Introduction of the concept of social protection, its advantages and linkages to growth
• Social protection in Zambia - history, current short comings & strategy
• Social cash transfers: an investment in human capital – Introduction to the concept of cash transfers, its advantages and international experience
• Social cash transfers in Zambia - introduction to the cash transfer scheme, evaluation results
• Financing social protection & social cash transfers – affordability of social protection in low income countries

Presentation of the Scheme in international fora to create awareness and facilitate knowledge transfer

• Cape town, July & September 2007: EPRI course on 'Design and Implementation of Social Transfers.'
• Mombasa, February 2007: Presentation at the Africa Regional workshop on cash transfer programs.
• Berlin, January 2007: Presentation at the Humboldt University for students, university staff and other interested actors in development
• New York, October 2006: UNICEF/New School Conference on 'Social Protection Initiatives for Children, Women and Families' 
• Istanbul, June 2006: World Bank conference on 'Conditional Cash Transfers' Johannesburg & Abuja 2005: NEPAD sub-regional MDGs Consultative workshops
• Manchester 2005: Social Protection for Chronic Poverty – Risk, Needs, And Rights: Protecting What? How?
• Paris 2005: Human Development Conference