QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND COMESA January - March 2018

EDITORIAL BY AMBASSADOR ALESSANDRO MARIANI TABLE OF CONTENT

 EU – ZAMBIA PARTNERSHIP During the first quarter of 2018 the European Union continued to invest time and energies in the relations with I. ELECTION OF THE EU ZAMBIA BUSINESS CLUB BOARD civil society with a wide variety of activities including: (i) the visit to the Refugee camp and settlement area in II. EU SIGNS SGBV PREVENTION AND SUPPORT , which was followed by the PROGRAMME announcement of a financial support via UNHCR and Civil Society Organisations; (ii) the promotion of the fight III. EU AND PARTNERS INVEST 4.7 M EURO TO PROTECT against Gender Based Violence with the signature of a new programme and its official launch in Lusaka as well as in ZAMBIA'S WILDLIFE Luapula and the Northern provinces; (iii) the enhancement of our joint efforts to protect wildlife in three main trans- IV. EU'S BLENDED FINANCE POWERS ITEZHI TEZHI frontier conservation areas between Zambia and Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia; HYDRO (iv) the dialogue with civil society organisations with a specific mandate to assist marginalised groups, with a V. EU ENGAGES CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS IN specific focus on re-integration in society of incarcerated ZAMBIA people; (v) first formal elections of the Board of Directors of the EU Zambia Business Club, which can play a more and VI. NATIONAL TOURISM MASTER PLAN more important role in dialogue with the Government of Zambia on investments and business climate. This very important work was strongly supported by a very active  EU – COMESA PARTNERSHIP role of all EU Member States. I. REGIONAL TRADE VISIT TO CHIRUNDU AND In the same period the European Union continued to KASUMBALESA develop agreed development programs in the main focal areas such as energy, agriculture and governance. In the energy sector worth reporting is the continuous progress  VOICES FROM THE FIELD registered at the Ithezhi Tezhi Hydropower Plant, which is I. EU VISITS REFUGEE SETTLEMENT AREAS IN supported by EU grants blended with loans from the European Investment Bank and the Agence Française de NCHELENGE DISTRICT Development. At the regional level the EU and COMESA completed the preparatory work for the agreement on The II. PRISONER'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT COMESA Cross Border Trade Initiative: Facilitating small- scale trade across the borders. III. VISIT TO THE INTEGRATED SCALING UP NUTRITION (I- SUN) PROJECT I wish to take the opportunity to draw your attention to the Lifeline/Childline Zambia, a toll free telephone IV. RAGWA-NUT PROJECT | WATER, HYGIENE & counselling and guidance service for adults and children that face problems such as gender based violence, child SANITATION abuse, early child marriage, etc. Their numbers are 933 (Lifeline) and 116 (Childline) respectively. My humble V. CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE SCALING UP (CASU) appeal to all our readers is to become goodwill ambassadors for these numbers and assist in disseminating PROJECT – CHONGWE them as widely as possible in Zambia. I count on you all VI. RAGWA-NUT PROJECT and wish to thank in advance most sincerely. I wish you all a good and informative reading. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union 1 Telephone: +260 (0) 211.25.55.83 Fax: +260 (0) 211.25.23.36 E-mail: [email protected]

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

EU – ZAMBIA PARTNERSHIP , where SGBV indicators are worse than national average. Election of the EUZBC Board

On Thursday, 8th of February, the EU-Zambia Business Club elected its first formal Board.

The Board is made up of experienced EU and Zambian CEOs: Henk Mulder – ZANACO CEO and EUZBC President, Elaine Henning – Moore Stephens Head of Office and EUZBC Vice-President, Mark Lüring – Drake & Gorham Managing Director and EUZBC Vice-President, Nasir Ali – Partner PwC and EUZBC Treasurer, Myanda Mulambo – Event Solutions CEO and EUZBC Assistant Treasurer, Cristina Banuta – Private Sector Advisor at the EU The Ambassador of the European Union, Alessandro Delegation and Secretary of the EUZBC, and Eston Sakala – Mariani, emphasised that mind-set changes take time and Evolution Logistics Managing Director and EUZBC Assistant he appealed to the traditional chiefs and media present at Secretary. the event to champion the fight against SGBV.

In this context, Ambassador Mariani also visited Kasama and Mansa, where he officially launched the programme together with the provincial authorities, traditional and religious leaders, CSOs as well as a team of the Ministry of Gender and the National Authorising Office/Ministry of Finance.

The Board will bring renewed impetus to the Association by setting its priorities and driving it forward.

EU Signs SGBV Prevention and Support Programme

On 9th February, the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the European Union signed a 25 million

Euro (approx. 300 million ZMW) Financing Agreement for a new Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Prevention These events included a number of activities such as and Support programme to SGBV survivors. The bilateral meetings with the local highest authorities, visits programme will support the Zambian Government in the to the SGBV One Stop Centres and to provincial shelters. prevention of SGBV by changing beliefs, attitudes and Panels discussing first hand experiences, including the practices and by increasing access and use of testimony of SGBV survivors, were broadcasted live in both comprehensive support services for survivors. It will be provinces. The Ambassador appealed to the participants to mainly implemented in the Luapula and Northern form strong alliances, as inclusive as possible, to combat all

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union 2 Telephone: +260 (0) 211.25.55.83 Fax: +260 (0) 211.25.23.36 E-mail: [email protected]

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

together SGBV. In Zambia and Malawi, the project "Sustainable Management and Wildlife Law Enforcement of the Nyika- North Luangwa component of the Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA)" will secure the biodiversity of this TFCA by consolidating six community conservation areas into one single corridor that connects Nyika National Park and Vwaza Wildlife Reserve in Malawi with North Luangwa National Park in Zambia and reinforce the protection of a national forests. Livelihoods of rural households will also be improved.

The "Strengthening Community Law Enforcement and The platforms were also taken as an opportunity to Sustainable Livelihoods in Kavango Zambezi TFCA (KAZA)" promote Lifeline/Childline Zambia, a toll-free telephone initiative will reduce illegal killing and trafficking of wildlife counselling and guidance service for children and adults in three key nature conservation sites with high poaching that face problems like child abuse, child marriage, gender- pressure in the KAZA TFCA in Zambia, Zimbabwe and based violence, etc. (telephone numbers 933 and 116 Namibia. In Zambia and Zimbabwe, the "Partnership for respectively). improved anti-poaching and compatible land use in community lands of the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools EU and Partners invest 4.7 m Euro to protect Zambia's Wildlife Transboundary Conservation Area" will reduce illegal wildlife trade and enhance habitat conversion in the Lower The protection of the fauna in Africa remains a huge Zambezi-Mana Pool TFCA. The project will strengthen challenge. Iconic species such as elephants, rhinos, community engagement in sustainable natural resource leopards and lions are being decimated by poachers, who management, anti-poaching efforts and integration of are often backed by international criminal networks conservation and compatible land uses. trading illegal wildlife products. EU's Blended Finance Powers Itezhi Tezhi Hydro

Zambia's 7th National Development Plan identified the energy sector as a key driver for inclusive and sustainable growth and the European Union is fully committed to help the Country reaching its sustainable energy development goals.

Pictures: Cheetah and Wild Dog © John Birch; Leopard © Nick Dale; Elephant © Andreas Klotz; Lion © Jacques-Andre Dupont

Since February three cross-border projects worth 4.7m Euro (approximately 56 million ZMW) benefit Zambia, together with its neighbouring countries Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The three projects are implemented by African Wildlife Foundation, Peace Parks Foundation and

World Wildlife Fund (WWF). An example of the multifaceted support to the sector is the The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union 3 Telephone: +260 (0) 211.25.55.83 Fax: +260 (0) 211.25.23.36 E-mail: [email protected]

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

European Union's blended financing of the Itezhi-Tezhi contribution in the project company and the development hydropower project, aiming at enhancing renewable of the transmission line by way of interest rate subsidies to energy generation and transmission for national the EIB and AFD loans. consumption as well as export, thus reducing the share of The European Union's support to the project demonstrated generation of fossil fuels in the Southern African Power the value of blended finance in ensuring the financial close Pool (SAPP) and in Zambia. of a USD 280 million project and ensuring debt sustainability by lowering the overall cost of debt for According to a recent monitoring mission, actual power Zambia's energy sector developments. generation at Itezhi-Tezhi hydro power station is already at approximately 80% of the maximum generation capacity. EU engages Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Zambia This has steadily increased from 544 MWh in 2016, 725 MWh in 2017 and currently projected at 780 MWh for The EU Delegation to Zambia launched a call for proposals 2018. To date, the plant experiences minimal down-time of – with two LOTS - on 13 March 2018 titled "Citizen less than 1% per annum. Engagement in Democracy and Re-integration of Inmates in Correctional Facilities in Zambia". The total size of the grant is 3 million Euro. To help familiarise potential applicants with the guidelines for the call, an Information session was convened on 21 March 2018 at the Hotel InterContinental and attended by 86 representatives from various civil society organisations.

The hydropower plant was developed under a project finance model with private sector participation, on a 25- year Build-Own-Operate-Transfer concession term while the transmission was wholly a public sector investment. The project company, Itezhi-Tezhi Hydropower Company

(ITPC) consisted of 50% equity by TATA and 50% equity provided by ZESCO. This is a first-of-its-kind public private A team from the EU Delegation was on hand to respond to partnership in the Zambian energy sector. the questions which were asked during the session.

The project consisted of the construction of: Potential applicants were also encouraged to submit  A new 120MW base load hydropower plant at the site clarifications they may have pertaining to the call by 11th of the existing Itezhi Tezhi dam on Zambia's Kafue April 2018. The closing date for receipt of concept notes River; was 2nd May 2018.  280 km transmission line owned by ZESCO from Itezhi The global objective of this call is to enhance Civil Society Tezhi to Lusaka West via Mumbwa, that connected the Organisations' contributions to governance and power station to the national grid and thereby to the development processes in Zambia while the two specific South African regional network. objectives focus on enhancing the role and capacity of Zambian CSOs as actors in the promotion of governance The European Union's 18.2 million Euro grant under the and accountability interventions at local and national levels Africa Investment Facility supported ZESCO's equity and also promotion of inclusive sustainable growth The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union 4 Telephone: +260 (0) 211.25.55.83 Fax: +260 (0) 211.25.23.36 E-mail: [email protected]

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

through skills development in favour of incarcerated their final draft to a wide range of stakeholders from other populations and strengthen community response systems Government ministries and agencies, to provincial for their reintegration. Permanent Secretaries and private sector representatives. The meeting approved the National Tourism Master Plan, which gives a direction and an action plan for developing the industry over the next 20 years.

The expected results include; improved CSO competences to operate in governance and accountability, social sectors, structuring and joint actions, including through networks as well as improved access to - and quality of - services for The Ministry of Tourism and Arts will now submit the economic empowerment for inmates in correctional document for approval by the Cabinet of Ministers and will facilities. set up an Implementation Unit to ensure traction for actual implementation of the National Tourism Master Plan. National Tourism Master Plan

EU – COMESA PARTNERSHIP

Regional Trade Visit to Chirundu and Kasumbalesa

During the month of March, EU staff from the Economic, Rural Development and Regional Cooperation Section of the European Union Delegation to Zambia and COMESA carried out trade facilitation scoping missions to two priority border posts identified under forthcoming regional trade cooperation programmes with COMESA: Chirundu and Kasumbalesa. The purpose of these missions, organized with the support

from the Zambian Revenue Authority – ZRA and conducted together with the COMESA Secretariat, was to assess the Upon request from the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, the main trade facilitation needs and constraints at these European Union has supported the drafting of a National border posts and to fine-tune the programmes' design Tourism Master Plan for Zambia. The project has been accordingly. It was also a good opportunity to raise undertaken under the coordination of the Ministry and it awareness about forthcoming EU support. involved extensive travelling and consultation of In Chirundu, the EU team had the opportunity to hold stakeholder around the country. consultations with key border agencies, clearing agents On the 28th of March, the Team Leader representing the and traders' representatives from Zambia and Zimbabwe. team of experts who worked on the Master Plan presented

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

This was followed by a guided tour of the main border the Cross-Border Traders Association's representatives and facilities (inspection, weighbridge, passenger terminal). traders. Chirundu was the first-ever One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) built in Africa.

This mission also included a visit of the existing border market and of the Trade information Desk's office on the Zambian side of the border. The main challenges identified

include insecurity and smuggling, inadequate facilities and infrastructure for traders to store and sell their products as well as lack of accurate data on cross border flows. All these priorities will be tackled through the forthcoming EU-funded programmes with COMESA.

VOICES FROM THE FIELD

EU Visits Refugee Settlement Areas in Nchelenge District

On 15 February, a team from the European Union visited

It is an important border crossing point along the North- Kenani Transit Centre and Mantapala refugee settlement South Corridor, both for trucks and buses. It is however not area in Nchelenge district in the where functioning optimally, notably because the border almost 15,000 refugees from DRC are living. infrastructures were already built before the launch of the The team was composed of H.E. Alessandro Mariani, OSBP. Important trade facilitation challenges identified Ambassador of the European Union, H.E. Sylvain Berger, during the mission include connectivity problems, lack of Ambassador of France, H.E. Filippo Scammaca, integration of Asycuda systems, human resources capacity Ambassador of Italy, and Mr Mark Richardson, Head of the constraints at the border as well as uncoordinated DFID Office. The team met with DRC refugees and inspections and the need to enhance risk management familiarised with the situation on the ground. capacities. Ambassador Mariani stated that "the European Union At Kasumbalesa, probably the busiest border post in wishes to congratulate Zambia for having welcomed so Zambia, the visit was focusing on small-scale cross border many refugees from DRC and for providing assistance to all trade flows (around 1500 persons on average crossing the of them in line with Zambia's long-standing tradition, border every day). Consultations were held with various which is exemplary to the entire world". He and his government agencies present at the border as well as with colleagues also expressed appreciation for the work done

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

by UNHCR Zambia and other UN agencies present on the whom the law does not foresee any specific provision. ground, thus showing the effectiveness of the UN system working as one.

Visit to the Integrated Scaling Up Nutrition (I-SUN) project

Ms Natalia Lazarewicz, the EU Geo Coordinator for Zambia Over 15,000 refugees are currently being hosted in Zambia, in the European Commission - Development & Cooperation and the number is expected to further increase should the - EuropeAid, visited in Rufunsa District the Integrated current trend continue. Scaling Up Nutrition (I-SUN) project implemented by Village Water Zambia and Send a Cow to reduce maternal Despite the efforts of the Government of Zambia to and child undernutrition in four districts. accommodate thousands of refugees in distress, there are evident needs of protection and assistance, including food, water, health care, and education. To this end, the European Union has decided to allocate 1 million Euro for DRC refugees and local communities.

Prisoner's Rights are Human Rights Project

Highlighting the work done by the European Union in Zambia in the area of human rights – Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Zambia in partnership with Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) is currently implementing an EU-funded project "Prisoner's Rights are She interacted with project beneficiaries in Bunda Bunda Human Rights". Patricia Pennetier from the EU Delegation and Chinyunyu villages. At the Rural Health Centres she visited the correctional facilities of Mkushi and Serenje to discussed with Community Volunteers and Health Workers measure the impact of the project's activities. about the training, bicycles and commodities they had In an environment where people are deprived of received from the project to help them provide women of everything: healthcare, food, education, childcare, decent reproductive age and mothers of malnourished children sanitary conditions, she heard from inmates that the with nutrition counselling and High Energy Protein project brought a significant change in their daily life by Supplements. improving hygiene, nutrition and water conditions, Then, farmers explained how they learned about especially for women incarcerated with their children for establishing key hole homestead gardens, producing tea

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

manure, organic pesticides and compost in addition to follower farmers adopting CA technologies. Mr Mumba growing high quality vegetable seeds. remembers: "I started growing cotton but when prices collapsed I switched to rice. A dry spell damaged my rice field and I tried green gram.

One day, I received from a relative, three pods of pigeon peas. I managed to multiply them and got enough to plant one row. In 2014, I joined the CASU Project and learned Since the project started, not only have they increased everything about CA. This helped me to expand to 4.5 ha. their production, but they have also diversified what they In 2017, thanks to CASU and my knowledge of CA I had my grow so that they can feed their children with more record harvest ever. I sell to the Lusaka Tuesday market so nutritious and diversified foods. that I can pay for my children's school fees".

Conservation Agriculture Scaling Up Project - Chongwe

On 24 February, Ms Natalia Lazarewicz, the EU Geo Coordinator for Zambia in the European Commission - Development & Cooperation - EuropeAid, visited the €11M Conservation Agriculture Scaling Up (CASU) Project in Chongwe.

This project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Zambia and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote conservation agriculture (CA) towards improved production and productivity for better rural livelihoods and enhanced food and nutrition security in 48 districts. RAGWA-Nut Project | Water, Hygiene & Sanitation

She interacted with Mr Crispin Mumba who is one of the Gracious Mandimu is an 18-year old girl from Muzambalika 19,000 Lead Farmers trained by the project to help 20 village in . She is also a member and the

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ZAMBIA AND COMESA January - March 2018

secretary of the Lukomano Savings Group, one of the 10 groups formed in her village with the EU support from the RAGWA-Nut Project. Thanks to her contributions to the Savings Group, she could obtain a credit of 200 ZMW that she invested in a small-scale business.

Now she recalls: “I really appreciate the RAGWA-Nut Project. I joined the Savings Group because my parents had challenges with paying for my school fees. Thanks to the credit I got, my parents and I developed a small scale fish business and I could pay for my fees and for repaying the loan. I have never faced any problem to pay for school fees anymore. Thank you EU for bringing RAGWA-Nut to our village”.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union 9 Telephone: +260 (0) 211.25.55.83 Fax: +260 (0) 211.25.23.36 E-mail: [email protected]