Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Angela Kawandami has met with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss various areas of cooperation.

During the meeting, JICA Chief Representative Norihito Yonebayashi highlighted some of JICA’s activities in Zambia’s health, infrastructure, agriculture and education sectors.

Mr. Yonebayashi recognized the Ministry as one of the key Ministries in the implementation of JICA projects as it deals directly with the community.

“Some of our goals are to help improve the education sector, reduce poverty especially at household level, strengthen prevention and control of infectious and non-communicable diseases. We cannot achieve all these without working with line Ministries such as this one,” Mr. Yonebayashi said.

And Ms. Kawandami explained various social protection programmes being implemented by the Ministry aimed at improving the welfare of the poor and vulnerable communities such the Social Cash Transfer, Food Security Pack and the Supporting Women’s Livelihoods under the GEWEL Project Among others.

She said the Ministry is open to technical and financial support which would go towards improving the provision of social protection services.

“Japan has a strength in the facilitation and provision of skills. Some of the areas which Zambia through the Ministry, may require collaboration include: Capacity building programmes, exchange programmes and rehabilitation of institutions,” Ms. Kawandami said.