Building Better Education

.... Collaborative efforts to enhance education and ensure sustainable development

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia – The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) held a national engagement meeting under the Voice and Accountability Project on March 26, 2025, to enhance accountability in Zambia’s education sector.

The event, held at the Mulungushi Conference Center, brought together key stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society organizations, donor agencies, and community leaders. 

The primary goal was to review and validate findings from the project’s monitoring activities conducted in Zambia’s Eastern and Western Provinces.

The meeting focused on data from the Social Accountability Scorecard, Outcome Harvesting, and Impact Surveys. 

The findings play a crucial role in aligning community-driven monitoring efforts with national education priorities and informing future policy decisions. 

They are integral in ensuring that local education service delivery meets the needs of the communities it serves.

Isabel Mutembo Mukelebai, Executive Director of CSPR, emphasized that the project aims to equip citizens with tools to hold education authorities accountable. 

“We are providing communities with the resources to raise concerns and ensure their needs are met, especially in areas like teacher availability and punctuality,” she explained.

Another key issue discussed was the sustainability of the project’s outcomes. Mukelebai urged stakeholders to devise strategies that will ensure the project’s successes continue beyond its current funding cycle and become embedded within Zambia’s broader governance systems. 

She stressed that fostering long-term sustainability is critical to ensuring ongoing citizen engagement and accountability in education.

The meeting saw participation from representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and Ministry of Finance, as well as school administrators, provincial planners, and international partners, including the World Bank and community members including WDC, Traditional, Parents Teachers Association and Minerity groups 

The event also benefited from the presence of media outlets, which ensured transparency and open dialogue during the proceedings.

Mukelebai concluded, “This is a pivotal moment for Zambia’s education system, offering an opportunity to strengthen accountability structures and ensure they are sustainable for future generations.”

The Voice and Accountability Project continues to play a significant role in empowering local communities, promoting transparency, and supporting the development of a more accountable education system across Zambia.

The Zambian government has once again demonstrated its commitment to transforming the education sector with the launch of the Voice and Accountability Project, a key initiative aimed at promoting transparency and citizen participation.

The project was highlighted during a national-level engagement meeting held today in Lusaka, marking a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance educational outcomes.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education, Richard Banda, Assistant Director Planning and information at the Ministry, expressed the government's dedication to improving the education system by ensuring that the voices of citizens – especially learners, teachers, and communities – are heard and respected. He emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader effort to make education more responsive and accountable to the needs of the people it serves.

“This meeting represents a crucial milestone9  in our commitment to improving education through transparency, accountability, and active public participation,” Banda said, addressing stakeholders from various sectors, including civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, and international partners.

The Voice and Accountability Project is designed to empower citizens to take an active role in monitoring and evaluating education policies and practices. The goal is to create a more inclusive education system where decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of those directly impacted, from students to educators to local communities.

Banda stressed that the project aligns with the government's broader objectives, such as increasing resources for schools through the introduction of free education and the recruitment of more teachers. He noted that these efforts demonstrate the government’s strong will to improve education but also require careful monitoring to ensure the resources are used efficiently.

“The support we are receiving from the Japanese Social Development Fund through the World Bank is critical in ensuring that resources allocated to schools are utilized transparently and accountably,” Banda explained. “It is equally important that community members are actively involved in monitoring the use of these resources for the benefit of our children.”

Community ownership of educational resources is another key focus of the initiative. Banda highlighted that the engagement of local communities in monitoring school grants and supporting school development projects contributes significantly to improving resource utilization and fostering a sense of responsibility.

As the project progresses, the government has reiterated its openness to working with civil society partners and other stakeholders to further improve education, particularly in the Central and Western Provinces, where the initiative has been focused.

“We recognize the invaluable role that our partners in civil society, especially those working on poverty reduction, play in facilitating dialogue and ensuring that every voice is heard,” Banda said.

The meeting also provided a platform for participants to evaluate the project’s progress, identify areas for improvement, and collectively plan the next phase of the initiative. The focus is on continued collaboration to build a more accountable and inclusive education system.

Meanwhile, OZAWA Nobue, First Secretary Head of Economic Affairs and Development Assistance Section, at the Japanese Embassy, disclosed that a new educational project has integrated 45 schools in Zambia’s Eastern and Western provinces. 

The initiative, backed by the Japanese government, seeks to improve education governance and service delivery in these regions.

Nobue expressed optimism that the successful outcomes of this project will be incorporated into Zambia’s broader education frameworks. “We are hopeful that the lessons learned will help strengthen Zambia’s education governance and service delivery,” he stated.

The project is designed to transfer best practices and evidence-based strategies, with a particular focus on improving educational quality in rural areas where resources are often limited. It highlights the collaborative effort of local stakeholders who have contributed to its implementation.

Through this initiative, Japan aims to support Zambia in achieving sustainable improvements in its education system, ensuring that future generations receive a high-quality education despite existing challenges.