[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1134, 260], "category": "Text", "text": "under the result to improve the efficiency, accountability and transparency of the public administration, enabling quality public service delivery. It contributes to the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (16, 5 and 10), the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the new European Consensus on Development as well as the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, the EU-Zambia CSO Roadmap and the Gender Action Plan III."}, {"bbox": [96, 269, 1134, 484], "category": "Text", "text": "This action is the first truly joint programme in Zambia. In a Team Europe approach, it has been designed in close collaboration with, and co-funding from, Germany and with GIZ as implementing partner. The action builds upon successful programmes on access to justice, accountability and civil society participation, funded by the EU Member States under the 11th EDF and Germany. As a result, this action will accommodate both the broad commitment of Germany as well as the EU current support on public sector accountability and transparency, and the more focussed EU engagement on access to justice. The EU is cooperating with other Member States, including Sweden and Ireland, to ensure complementarity and continuously explore opportunities to include other Member States into joint programming in order to increase outreach and impact of this Action."}, {"bbox": [85, 524, 323, 557], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 588, 234, 617], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 635, 1134, 823], "category": "Text", "text": "Over the last decade Zambia has witnessed a growing trend of authoritarianism, with state actors (especially the executive) increasingly unwilling to follow the rule of law, be transparent and accountable, or to engage in constructive dialogue with its citizens. However, on the 12 August 2021 Zambians embraced their democratic right to vote and went to the polls in high numbers, voting in a new President. There are high hopes that with the new government, Zambia will experience improved democratic governance, and see a turnaround of the many challenges the country currently faces. However, these changes will only be confirmed in the coming months and years."}, {"bbox": [96, 833, 1134, 1127], "category": "Text", "text": "Zambia's central development objectives are set out in its Vision 2030, which incorporates the objectives of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations' Agenda 2030. Promotion of good governance is embedded in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) as a prerequisite for inclusive economic development (pillar 5), with a focus on improving national anti-corruption guidelines, policy on legal aid and the statutory framework for non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This includes improving transparency and accountability. In line with SDG 5, pillar 3, the 7NDP also aims to reduce gender inequality. Stakeholder consultations on the development of the Eight National Development Plan (8NDP) were initiated before the elections in August 2021. The new government is in the process of reviewing and consolidating it. They have announced that the 8NDP shall be structured around four pillars: 1- Economic transformation and job creation; 2- Human and social development; 3- Environmental sustainability; and 4- Good governance. Timelines as well as plans for further stakeholder engagements are unclear, but it is expected that the 8NDP should be in place towards mid-2022."}, {"bbox": [96, 1137, 1134, 1378], "category": "Text", "text": "A significant obstacle to achieving these development objectives has been the limited fiscal space, as increasing public debt servicing costs have crowded out all other priority expenditures. Public debt increased markedly over recent years because of a lack of transparency in large public investment decisions, public procurement, misuse of resources and personal enrichment by public officials. The shortage of resources is likely to become more acute as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been seriously jeopardising the provision of basic public services. As a consequence to the pandemic, Zambia had officially defaulted on its sovereign debt in November 2020 as the first country in Africa. The new government is currently negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to agree an ECF (Enlarged Credit Facility) programme in early 2022. The government and the IMF reached a staff level agreement for a programme on 18th November 2021."}, {"bbox": [96, 1388, 1134, 1630], "category": "Text", "text": "The old administration responded to these challenges with increasingly restrictive policies and restrictions on basic civil rights, such as the right of assembly and the right to freedom of expression. Government ministries were limiting the scope for civil society to be involved in law and policy making processes. The adoption of legislation on cybercrime in February 2021 also gave rise to concern, as it gave the government sweeping powers to prosecute users voicing critical opinions online. Poor citizens, women, children and young people, especially those living in rural areas, have few, if any, opportunities for political participation and are particularly affected by inadequate provision of public services. Civil society organisations campaigning for citizens' rights and media professionals faced arbitrary searches and legal proceedings. The ruling party's manifesto commits itself to promoting civil society participation, transparency and to intensify the fight against corruption. In order to open up the civic space"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1142, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 21"}]