A New Kind of Partnership

With a signed MOU between the Danish Embassy and various stakeholders in Itezhi-tezhi District MS-Zambia is ready to manage the Community Based Natural Resource Management sub-component of DANIDA’s Natural Resource Management programme in Zambia.

By Manja Kamwi Information Officer MS-Zambia

A historical agreement was signed on the 31st of May this year when MS-Zambia, the Danish Embassy in Zambia, the Itezhi-tezhi District Administration, District Council and the Community Resources Board signed a Memorandum Of Understanding, which outlines the future cooperation between all the stakeholders.

On behalf of the Danish Embassy MS-Zambia will manage the Community Based Natural Resource Management Programme in Itezhi Tezhi District, which is one of the six sub components of DANIDAs Natural Resource Management Programme in Zambia.

Dynamic working relationship

Speaking after signing the MOU at the Danish Embassy MS-Zambia Country Director, Mr. Kanene said the MOU “signals a new and dynamic working relationship between MS-Zambia and the Danish Embassy.”

A working relationship that offers a possibility of involving all relevant stakeholders.

“Although MS-Zambia has many years of experience in supporting Zambian Civil Society Organisations and Community Based Organisations, the signing of this MOU also signals the development of a new way of involving and harmonising stakeholders in the conservation, management and sustainable utilisation of all natural resources in rural Zambia. The inclusion of signatories to this MOU from Itezhi Tezhi District is a concrete evidence that the Itezhi Tezhi Community Based Natural Resources Management Programme is centered around an all-inclusive involvement of all key stakeholders that have traditionally been left out of Natural Resources Management Programmes,” said Kanene.

The Danish Ambassador, Mr. Orla Bakdal also welcomed the new working relationship between the Danish Embassy and MS-Zambia and expressed hope that the joint forces could bring development to Zambia.

The people should benefit

Mr. Bakdal said “the overall objective of the Natural Resource Management Component is to reduce rural poverty through improved sustainable natural resource management.”

“The natural Resources of this country are enormous and it is the hope that with our humble support the local communities will benefit from these,” he said.

The programme in Itezhi Tezhi District is closely linked to the Zambian Governments newly launched decentralisation policy, which is seeking to shift powers and resources from the central administration in Lusaka to district and sub district levels – where the poor people are living.

Both the District Commissioner, Mr. Beene and Mr. Shikaumbu, who was representing the Community Resources Boards in Itezhi Tezhi District, expressed confidence that the programme will benefit the local people in the area as all stakeholders from District to local level will be involved.

The role of MS-Zambia

The programme in Itezhi Tezhi District is planned to run for three years and has a budget of US$ 897.280,00.

The role of MS-Zambia will be to manage the project by providing technical support on CBNRM issues, facilitate training of trainers, providing assurance in the preparation of the work plans, budgets and reports of the secretariat and provide technical assistance in the identification, implementation and monitoring of micro projects and providing financial management responsibility for the CBNRM component. With this support MS-Zambia will ensure the development of a legal and sustainable model for service delivery, which will enable the stakeholders to operate on their own within a reasonable timeframe.

MS-Zambia will also provide a Development Worker, who will be attached at Itezhi-teshi District Council with the aim of assisting the District Council and local authorities with the establishment of a decentralised system of democratic local governance in line with DANIDA and the Zambian governments programme on good governance and democratisation in Zambia.