Zambia Ramps Up Child Protection With Civil Society and Government Training Initiative
The National Child Rights Forum, in collaboration with Save the Children International (SCI) Zambia and supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), has launched a two-day training program aimed at strengthening child welfare systems in Zambia.
The initiative brings together key government stakeholders and civil society actors working across critical areas of child protection and development.
The training focuses on a range of vital issues including child rights advocacy, safeguarding, participation, gender equality, and climate resilience. It forms part of the Civil Society Strengthening Program, which seeks to build a more resilient, coordinated, and accountable ecosystem for advancing children’s rights in Zambia.
Speaking at the official opening, Mr. Joshua Kamanya, Director of the Department of Child Development at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), highlighted the growing challenges facing children in the country.
“Zambia’s children are facing escalating poverty levels, increasing deprivation, persistent violence and abuse, and heightened vulnerability to weather and climate-related shocks,” he said. Citing the 2023 Child Poverty Report, Mr. Kamanya revealed that 70.6% of Zambia’s 9.4 million children experience deprivation in at least two dimensions of wellbeing.
Representing Ms. Chilobe Kambikambi, Country Director of SCI Zambia, Mr. Robert Makunu, Director of Program Development and Quality, emphasized that these are not abstract issues. “They shape children’s lives in classrooms, homes, health centres, and communities across the country,” he stated, calling for urgent, coordinated responses.
Ms. Kambikambi, in her remarks delivered through Mr. Makunu, also applauded Zambia’s legislative progress in child protection, citing the landmark Children’s Code Act. “The enactment of the Children’s Code marked a historic milestone, consolidating child-related legislation into one comprehensive statute,” she noted.
Mr. Yussuf Ayami, Team Lead at Family Development Initiative, thanked SCI Zambia and SIDA for their continued partnership. “Your support energizes and deepens our shared mission to create safe, inclusive, and empowering environments for children across Zambia,” he said.
The training serves as a critical platform to build the capacity of actors at the forefront of child welfare. It also reinforces the importance of collaboration between government, civil society, and international partners in addressing child poverty, inequality, and vulnerability in Zambia.
As part of its broader commitment, SCI Zambia is working with the National Child Rights Forum to ensure that civil society not only supports government efforts but also holds institutions accountable while empowering children and communities to defend their rights.
