The Zambia Red Cross Society has expressed interest to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services aimed at strengthening collaboration and response in humanitarian support.

By formalizing the MoU, the partnership seeks to enhance social protection efforts, improve crisis response mechanisms, and extend outreach to communities in need.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Ms Doreen Mwamba, represented by Director for Planning and Information, Mr. Patrick Choolwe, during a courtesy call, expressed the Ministry’s anticipation of greater impact in social protection interventions once the MoU is finalized.

“This initiative recognizes that both the government, through the Ministry, and the Zambia Red Cross Society serve the same constituency of people who are the poor and vulnerable”, Ms Mwamba emphasized.

She noted that the government has made significant strides in responding to emergencies, such as droughts, and believes that working closely with the Zambia Red Cross Society will lead to a more coordinated and effective response to humanitarian crises.

Zambia Red Cross Society Secretary General, Mr. Cosmas Sakala, acknowledged the government’s commitment to disaster response through various social protection interventions and emphasized the need for a strengthened approach to reaching affected communities through a well-structured and systematic relationship.

Mr Sakala who reaffirmed the Society’s intent to expand its outreach and support to more districts, further noted that this potential partnership will therefore pave way for enhanced cooperation in disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term social support programmes in line with governments development agenda.