Zambia

The 10th EDF Country Strategy Paper provides a framework for EC assistance programmes under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement for the years <year of signature> to 2013. The framework is based on EU/ACP cooperation objectives, such as poverty reduction, sustainable development and the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world economy. It also derives from Zambia’s policy agenda (5th National Development Plan 2006-2010, FNDP), an assessment of the country situation, and the activities of other major cooperating partners in Zambia (Joint Assistance Strategy Zambia, JASZ). The framework is fully consistent with the European Consensus on Development, with its emphasis on country ownership and aid effectiveness, and focus on attaining the MDGs and democratic governance. The framework concludes with the proposed EC response strategy and an Indicative Programme.

The theme of the FNDP is “Broad Based Wealth and Job Creation through Citizenry Participation and Technological Advancement”. The focus will be on 1) pro-poor growth-oriented sectors that create employment and income opportunities for the poor, including in particular rural development, agriculture and manufacturing, and 2) economic infrastructure and human resources development. The FNDP draws attention to those sectors that maximise growth stimulation as well as those, such as agriculture, education and health, that best address the plight of the poor.

The Joint Assistance Strategy Zambia (JASZ) was agreed and signed after the FNDP 2006-2010 was officially launched (January 2007). The purpose of the JASZ is to harmonise and align the assistance provided by cooperating partners to support the implementation of Zambia's national development goals. This is in line with the 2005 Paris Declaration, to which Zambia and its cooperating partners are signatory. The JASZ should be the appropriate instrument with which to progress towards further harmonisation according to the requirements of the Cotonou Agreement and the EU development strategy.

The basic criteria considered for the selection of the sectors/areas and support modalities under the 10th EDF CSP-NIP are as follows: the FNDP main objectives and financial needs, the comparative advantage of the EC as defined in the European Consensus, the division of labour and complementarity between cooperating partners under the JASZ, and the aid implementing methods recommended by both the EU development strategy and the FNDP. Interventions are planned under two focal areas: Regional Integration/Infrastructure and Transport (Focal Area 1, 24.6%) and Human Development/Health (Focal Area 2, 12.4%), combined with Macro-economic support (general budget support, 48.9%). Non-focal interventions (14.1%) will concentrate on agriculture-food security, governance, and support to non-state actors and to EPA/ regional integration implementation.