ZAMBIA PRSP:ZAMBIA PRSP: User-Producer Workshop User-Producer Workshop

By

Buleti Nsemukila, Ph.D

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Background: PRSP Process in Zambia

Zambia is one of the poor countries currently working on the PRSP under the HIPC initiative;

PRSP Secretariat operates under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development

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PRSP in Zambia has identified three (3) themes:

o Economico Socialo Crosscutting

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Economic themeEconomic theme:

the main thrust is to have rapid and

sustainable growth through creation of wealth and to be driven by the revitalization of agriculture and mining sectors;

Social themeSocial theme:

to have a healthy and enlightened society contributing positively to economic growth – includes elements of education and health interventions;

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CrosscuttingCrosscutting:

include HIV/AIDS, environment, gender and governance concerns for all issues.

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Stages in the Zambian PRSP:

Consultations Formation of sector working groups Preparation of sector papers

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Working Groups:

o Macroeconomic o Agricultureo Tourismo Miningo Industry/Manufacturingo Healtho Education

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Current Status:

Final draft produced after grass root consultations.

Final Document to be presented to major stakeholders in October 2001.

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Overview of Zambia’s Statistical System

An Act of Parliament (Cap 425) of the Laws of Zambia of 1964 guides the Zambian Statistical System.

Under the Act, the Director of CSO is required to carry out all censuses and surveys and to organize a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics relating to Zambia.

CSO is a government department under Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

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Current statistical system comprise:

o Central Statistics Office

o Statistical units in sector ministries

o University research institutes

o Bank of Zambia

o Statistical units in private sector and NGOs

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Major Sources of Data:

o Census

o Household surveys

o Administrative records

o Qualitative data derived from participatory techniques

User-Producer Workshop

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Organised by the CSO and the PRSP secretariat.

Financially and logistically supported by the European Union and GTZ.

Participation (more than 70) from: Government institutions Research community Civil society and NGOs International organization

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Major Objectives of Workshop

Provide highlights on the types of data inputs required for the implementation of the PRSP;

Bring together users and producers of poverty data so as to ensure relevance, timeliness and accuracy of produced data;

Institutionalise the dialogue between users and producers of data;

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Workshop as a strategy:Used as strategy to establish a permanent and on-going dialogue between users and producers of information towards the improvement of the poverty monitoring system in Zambia.

Expected Outputs:• relevant recommendations,• general framework of required data,• setting priorities and• itemizing the programme activities that would achieve the establishment of a good

system of poverty statistics in Zambia.

Lessons Learnt

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The need to market existing data at the CSO- dialogue between users and producers through User-Producer Committee

The need for a significant improvement in analytical skills

- training in data-handling (more than 60 participants trained)

The need was recognized for the CSO to improve its methods and means of dissemination

- Data available on CD- rom to improve access to data.

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The need was identified to develop and strengthen administrative record keeping through management information system,

The need to establish coordination mechanism in the Zambian statistical system:

- establishment of National Statistical Council- establishment of National User-Producer Committee- preparation of draft legal framework to be submitted for legislation- preparation of a proposal for the review of Zambia’s statistical system.

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The need to strengthen existing poverty data sources, institutional building and dissemination;

The need for awareness activities on poverty through organizing a national forum on poverty issues:

- Stakeholder Summit in October- Annual Poverty Conference

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Even though a statistical system has existed in Zambia since 1964, the PRSP process has enabled stakeholders rethink over the need to strengthen the system to accommodate new demands and challenges. This is true for the need to improve coordination of poverty monitoring and analysis.

The user-producer workshop provided an opportunity to strengthen the draft poverty monitoring and evaluation chapter of the Zambian PRSP.

Conclusion