The Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) has announced a new agreement with Save the Children International in Zambia worth 55,000,000 SEK that will fund a Child Rights Governance project - Driving Sustainable Change for Children’s Rights including Covid-19 response interventions
Through this project, Save the Children and local implementing partners will use a Child Rights Governance Approach to strengthen Child Sensitive Social Accountability, Investment in Children and Child Informed Reporting in order to drive positive outcomes for children. This will mean strengthening child centred social accountability skills and structures from national to community level; independent budget tracking and analysis from community to national level; advocacy for efficient and quality social service delivery that benefit children; and supporting the strengthening of children’s agency and structures in the promotion and protection of Child Rights in Zambia meeting the meaningful and ethical requirements of child participation, child safeguarding and supportive protective measures. This project will target the most marginalised and deprived children in selected districts on the Copperbelt, Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western, Luapula and Lusaka Provinces.
Jo Musonda, the Country Director for Save the Children in Zambia, says:
“This support from the Swedish Government could not have come at a better time. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to wipe out the positive progress Zambia has made in the advancement of children’s rights in Zambia. We see children’s rights to survive, learn and be protected facing greater risks like never before. The support from the Swedish Government will help us protect the gains we have made in promoting and protecting children’s rights and will contribute to driving sustainable change for children’s rights in Zambia. We thank the people of Sweden through its government for this generous support.”
This project aims to reach over 2.1 million children over a three-year period between 2020 and 2023.
The Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka - Head of Development Cooperation, Ms Susanna Hughes states:
“Sida’s support to Save the Children on ’Driving sustainable change for children’s rights in Zambia’ is a unique contribution in our portfolio. This is because of its focus on the agency of children and their communities in demanding greater accountability for education, health and social protection among other issues. It is a priority for the Swedish development cooperation in Zambia to contribute to reduced inequality, democracy and inclusive economic development. The support to Save the Children will contribute to this by enhancing civic participation as well as promoting gender equality. We look forward to supporting Save the Children, the Children of Zambia and their communities as they strengthen their voices for the full enjoyment of children’s rights.”
Zambia has a growing population of approximately 16 million people, 45% of which are under the age of 15. More than half of children live in multi-dimensional poverty facing deprivation in the areas of protection, education, standards of living as well as health. This project will contribute to the drive positive sustainable change for children’s rights in Zambia.
