United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund-UNICEF says Children remain at the center of collective developmental agenda.

Speaking at the ZIPAR 2019 budget analysis UNICEF Zambia Deputy national representative Shadrack Omol says the national budget is key instrument that translates plans into actions to make a world of difference for children.

Mr Omol says children make more than half of the population and are so reliant on quality government services such as schools and health centers.

‘’Children are the first to benefit when public finances are prudently managed or to suffer if investment drop or are not managed well’’ He said.

Mr Omol He said main of the obstacles hindering progress to improve child out comes can directly traced to public financial management.

He says children may receive education of poor quality due to delayed salary payments because of poor funding flows.

Children may be unable to get the health care they need because critical supplies are lacking.

He laments that thousand of school going children do not have access to secondary schools despite the Ministry of general education gets the largest single share of the national budget at fifteen percent.

“we have a duty to young people, to prepare them for a world that is rapidly evolving where education and skills can mean the difference between employment and unemployment’’

Mr Omol further encouraged government to continue setting aside substantial funds to programs that protect the vulnerable in society.

UNICEF Zambia Deputy national representative Shadrack Omol was speaking at the ZIPAR 2019 budget analysis.