The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Sub regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA), in collaboration with the University of Zambia (Department of Economics) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Office for Zambia, is organising a Public Lecture under an initiative to promote engagements with stakeholders in Zambia on topical issues impacting on the economic growth and development of the country. The theme for the upcoming lecture is ‘Addressing the Financial Squeeze for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Zambia’ to take place at the University of Zambia (LT2) on Friday, 9th June 2023 from 0830-1130hrs. The lecture will include presentations by the IMF and UNECA.
The IMF's "The Big Funding Squeeze" paper discusses financing challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, citing persistent global inflation and tighter monetary policies. Higher borrowing costs and rising public debt burdens impact the region's macroeconomic imbalances, causing economic recovery to be interrupted. The lack of funding may force countries to reduce resources for critical development sectors, weakening growth potential.
ECA SRO SA's presentation focuses on financing SDGs in Zambia, emphasizing progress and opportunities for improvement. This lecture aims to promote public engagement on Zambia's financial challenges in financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide practical solutions. Addressing the financial constraints to SDGs will boost economic growth and address the unemployment and poverty challenges. Strategies in addressing the financial squeeze include, enhanced domestic resource mobilization including through efficiency of the tax system and bringing the informal sector into the tax bracket, improved financial management, stronger and strategic partnerships with other development partners, accelerating industrialization to create jobs, and financial inclusion.
Objectives of the Joint Public Lecture
The public lecture seeks to contribute to building a shared understanding, commitment, and action towards addressing the financial squeeze for achieving the SDGs in Zambia. Specifically, the lecture will raise awareness of the extent and impact of the financial squeeze in Sub Sahara Africa and how this has constrained fiscal space for financing development. The Lecture will also increase public awareness about the financial constraints faced by Zambia in achieving the SDGs and highlight the importance of addressing this issue for sustainable development and elaborate on financial challenges and their implications on SDG implementation in Zambia. It will underline the need for improved financial management, domestic resource mobilization, and strategic partnerships in the SDG journey. The lecture will foster dialogue and collaboration and interrogate innovative solutions for overcoming the financial squeeze. By leveraging the work of the IMF of the financing challenges in Sub Sahara and the work of ECA in supporting industrialization, the lecture will deepen stakeholders’ understanding on strategies for addressing development challenges in Zambia and the implementation of the SDGs and the aspirations of the 8th National Development Plan.
For Media inquiries
Lavender C. Degre
Communication Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Southern Africa Office
2392 Longolongo Road
P.O. Box 30647, Lusaka, ZAMBIA
Tel: +260 211 228502/5 Ext. 21307
Fax: +260 211 236949
DL: +260 211 376607
Email: lavender.degre@un.org
Project and Meeting Focal Point.
Ms. Godfridah Sitali
Programme Management Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Sub regional Office for Southern Africa
Lusaka, Zambia
Email: godfridah.sitali@un.org