Zambia calls for global support to boost sustainable housing, urban development

Zambia has called for international support to help developing countries advance sustainable human settlement initiatives, with an emphasis on providing decent housing, municipal services and social amenities in informal settlements.

Zambia is participating in the 12th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), which was officially opened on November 4, 2024, by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The forum’s theme, “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” underscored the importance of local efforts in achieving global sustainability goals.

Representing Zambia are Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development, Engineer Charles Milupi, and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gary Nkombo.

During a courtesy visit to the Zambian Mission, Minister Nkombo emphasized government’s commitment to sustainable human settlements, highlighted by the development of Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) across all 116 districts in Zambia.

This initiative aligned with SDG 11, which promotes resilient and sustainable urbanization.

“Zambia’s participation reflects its dedication to realising the New Urban Agenda’s goals of well-managed urbanization by 2030,” Nkombo stated.

He further outlined the government’s Urban Renewal Programme, which aimed to upgrade unplanned settlements, starting with Kanyama Compound in Lusaka.

Nkombo called on private financiers to collaborate with the government through public-private partnerships (PPP) to fund these upgrades.

“We urge stakeholders to join us in providing decent housing, municipal services, and social amenities in informal settlements through the PPP model,” he said.

To address development disparities between rural and urban areas, Nkombo added that the government was advancing its decentralization agenda, empowering local authorities by increasing both functional and fiscal capacities through devolution.

In his remarks, Engineer Milupi highlighted Zambia’s need for additional investors to help reduce the country’s housing deficit, currently estimated at 1.5 A units.

At the forum, President El-Sisi called for strengthened international partnerships to implement the New Urban Agenda and achieve SDGs related to sustainable human settlements and urban development.

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