| Capacity Building for Private Sector Development |
Capacity Building for Private Sector Development
9th European Development Fund
Project Title: Alliance for Public Financial Awareness
The proposed action aims at raising awareness among the Zambian citizens’ on the importance of good management and prudent spending of budget resources by Government. In addition to this, it also aims at raising awareness of Government officials who are responsible for budget allocations on their responsibility towards the Zambian citizens to ensure a maximum degree of prudent spending, and avoidance of unnecessary and wasteful expenses.
This is to be done through support for appropriate analytical work, such as public expenditure reviews, advocacy created by strategic partners on public expenditure management and an awareness campaign involving the media and public at large. The focus of the action is on reminding Government of prudent fiscal spending, rather than demanding tax exemptions and reductions for a particular taxpayer clientele.
DESCRIPTION
Title: Alliance for Public Financial Awareness
Location: Zambia - Lusaka, Copperbelt, Central and Southern Provinces.
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Duration of the action
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12 months : effective 1st July 2008
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Objectives of the action
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Overall objective: To increase the percentage of Government Budget spent on directly poverty reduction relevant services in a cost efficient and effective way.
Specific objective: Citizens become increasingly demanding with respect to a prudent and cost efficient spending of Government resources for public service delivery and Government officials become increasingly aware of their responsibility to ensure cost-effective public spending and accountability to taxpayers when planning and implementing public expenditure.
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Partner
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Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR).
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Target group(s)
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Citizens, Parliamentarians and Government Officials.
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Final beneficiaries
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The People of Zambia
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Estimated results
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1. An awareness campaign of mutual responsibility between local taxpayers and Government decision makers is carried out.
2. Information on public expenditure, especially imprudent and wasteful government spending is collected and analysed.
3. The collected information on imprudent and wasteful government spending is made public and subsequently, asking the responsible officers for an adequate Government response.
4. An awareness campaign for Parliamentarians on their legal authority to provide oversight of public resources management through the constitution and their empowerment to monitor budget execution by the Executive is carried out.
5. Strengthening the advocacy role and capacity of the Economics Association of Zambia Secretariat and other stakeholder organizations for development-oriented economic management.
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Main activities
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Collection and analysis of information, lobbying meetings with Government, discussion fora, print media publicity, television and radio programs, publication of informative materials and publicity over the internet.
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Project Management
The project will be run by the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ). It will initially be supported by the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) as an umbrella body for civil society organizations, where the EAZ is also a member. Other partners to be approached for support and contributions of ideas and topics to be promoted include:
1. Zambia Business Forum (ZBF)
2. Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR)
3. Private Sector Development Association (PSDA)
4. University of Zambia – Dept of Economics(UNZA)
5. Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU)
6. Zambia Chambers for Commerce and Industry (ZACCI)
7. Zambia Association for Manufacturers (ZAM)
8. Trade Unions in Zambia – ZCTU & FFTUZ
9. Transparency International Zambia (TIZ)
10. Caritas Zambia formerly Catholic Centre for Justice, Development and Peace (CCJDP)
