Minister of National Development Planning says government has secured US$100 million from the World Bank for climate change mitigation and adaption projects, Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (Tralard) in Muchinga, Luapula and Northern Provinces.
Speaking at a Media briefing to review the successes and challenges faced by the Ministry in the year 2020 and planned activities for 2021, Alexander Chiteme said the Tralard project is supporting sustainable use of natural resources for livelihoods, and will help government to respond to climate related crises adequately and timely.

Mr. Chiteme added that US$150 Million has also been secured to support renewable energy and adaptation projects in the country, and 14 million US dollars for on-going support for private sector led climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.

He said under the Covid-19 Energy Access Relief Facility (EARF), a US$60 million concessional debt fund was approved by the Green Climate Fund in November 2020, and the country qualifies to access this facility.

“In line with the National Policy on Climate Change, the Ministry of National Development Planning is responsible for overall coordination and oversight, and mainstreaming of climate change in national development planning processes. The Ministry also mobilizes resources for climate change interventions including livelihood sustainability for those impacted negatively by climate change.”

“The National Adaptation Planning (NAP) for climate resilience readiness proposal worth US$2.2 million was approved by the Green Climate fund in March 2020. This Adaptation Planning support will focus on developing the overarching national NAP which covers priority sectors, and on developing a Water National Adaptation Plan. The inclusion of Zambia to the Climate Investor One (CIO) project worth US $820.0 Million was approved in October 2020.”

He further disclosed that US$32.8 Million has been set aside for the Zambia Integrated Forestry Landscape Project (ZIFLP) which is being implemented in Eastern Province.
Mr. Chiteme explained that the ZIFLP project supports rural communities in the province to better manage the natural resources of their landscapes so as to reduce deforestation improve landscape management and increase environmental and economic benefits for targeted rural communities.
“In October this year, the project disbursed about US $1.77 Million (about K38.59 Million) to communities in Eastern Province that applied for grants to undertake community-members-driven projects meant to empower local people while protecting the environment, promoting community mitigation and adaptation to climate change.”

“Further, progress was made in 2020 in the continued implementation of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) projects in Western, Southern and Central Provinces. Apart from making advancement in the completion of various projects, a number of communities benefited from matching grants of over K30.0 Million, which were handed-over by President Edgar Lungu,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chiteme disclosed that preparations for the 2020 Census which has been moved to next year are progressing well.

He said the Census Mapping activities were completed through-out the country in September 2020, while the pilot Census which covered all the 10 Provinces has now been completed.

“With regard to the preparation of the 2020 Census which has been postponed to 2021, this is going well and focus has been on the preparatory activities relating to mapping and listing and the pilot Census. I am glad to mention that the Census mapping activities were completed through-out the country in September 2020, while the pilot Census has now been completed. The pilot covered all the 10 provinces with two (2) districts selected for the exercise in each province.”