The government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, has made progress towards the ratification of the African Union Protocol on Social Protection and Social Security
The ratification aims among other things, to cement transformative opportunities for the social protection landscape in Zambia through an effective and efficient legal framework.
Highlighting the progress made in the promotion of human and social development, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services principal planner, Ms Susan Musonda, has acknowledged the importance of having comprehensive legislation on social protection.
She was speaking when she was featured on the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) sponsored radio programme on Radio Christian Voice, to discuss Zambia’s Social Protection Legislative Framework.
Ms Musonda assured that the Government working with various stakeholders is working to overcome challenges that hinder the effective implementation of social protection programmes because there is currently no overarching law that specifically governs the provision and implementation of social protection.
She therefore said the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP), which is awaiting validation and expected to be launched in the 2nd quarter of this year, needs to be updated with current and emerging issues such as the Cash Plus concept, Single Window Initiative, Shock-Responsive elements of social protection, as well as the Integrated Social Protection Information System (ZISPIS), among others.
“The implementation of measures specified in the protocol in Zambia are anticipated to have far-reaching impacts on the overall socio-economic development of the country especially in light of escalating vulnerability levels in the country”, Ms Musonda said.
She further said Zambia’s international standing will be enhanced through a commitment to implement measures specified in the protocol which will align with global human rights principles and commitment to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty reduction.
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