Government has called for stakeholder engagement in ensuring the success of the life cycle approach to social protection.

Speaking during a Socio-Economic Forum held as part of the Social Protection Week, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Ms.

Angela Kawandami stressed the need for multi sectoral collaboration and active a landmark policy shift that realigns protection systems to meet the evolving needs of citizens across their entire life journey.

She affirmed the critical role that social protection plays in the country’s development, particularly in the face of economic challenges, youth unemployment, and climate change.

Ms Kawandami further reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive policy making processes that serve the needs of the people, with a call on the civil society, development partners, trade unions, and academia to play a critical role in aligning programming, advocacy, research, and resource mobilization to this new framework.

She has also stressed the need to stakeholders to elevate community voices and ensure that no one is left behind in the implementation of social protection programs, as she commended the organizers of the Forum Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) bringing together a thoughtful and diverse assembly.

Discussants present at the Forum included University of Zambia (UNZA) Lecturer and Researcher Dr. Isaac Kabelenga, International Labour Organization (ILO) Social Protection Manager Mr. Finn Koch, and Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) Social Policy Lead, Mr. Brian Mwiinga.

The forum brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss pressing socio-economic issues, identify policy and implementation gaps, and propose solutions to shape Zambia’s development path.