Zambia Launches Project to Strengthen Economic Diplomacy and Foreign Policy with UNDP Support
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Zambia has launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s Economic Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, and institutional capacity.
The Project Initiation Plan, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was officially launched by Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, SC, M.P, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, at a ceremony in Lusaka.
The launch was marked by the signing and exchange of a Letter of Agreement for the Project Initiation Plan between Ms. Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation, and Mr. James Wakiaga, UNDP Resident Representative, witnessed by Ms. Beatrice Mutali, UN Resident Coordinator in Zambia.
In his remarks, Minister Haimbe emphasized the project’s critical role in supporting Zambia’s Foreign Policy, which is anchored on peace, security, and Economic Diplomacy.
He highlighted that the project would enhance the Ministry’s capacity to engage effectively on the international stage, driving economic development through strategic reforms and policy alignment.
The project is expected to deliver key outputs, including a Foreign Policy framework that aligns with national, regional, and international dynamics, and an Economic Diplomacy strategy focusing on trade, investment, carbon trading, and technological advancement.
The Minister called on bilateral and multilateral partners to support the initiative and thanked those who have already committed resources. He expressed gratitude to the UNDP for its collaboration, noting that the project aligns with Zambia’s 8th National Development Plan and the Ministry’s objectives.
Ms. Mutali, the UN Resident Coordinator, praised the collaborative effort and highlighted the interconnectedness of development, peace, and security. She noted that global challenges such as climate change, energy transitions, and geopolitical tensions necessitate cohesive international cooperation, which the project aims to address.
Ms. Mutali also referenced the upcoming Summit of the Future, convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as an opportunity to reinforce global and local efforts toward sustainable development.
The UN Resident Coordinator reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working with the Zambian government and development partners to achieve meaningful impacts, particularly in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
She expressed confidence that the project would contribute to Zambia’s economic and political engagement on the global stage, supporting the broader objectives of the UN and the country’s national development strategy.
