Fifth National Development Plan 2006-2010.

In order to ensure a well coordination of sectoral plans and their inter-linked, the government of Zambia has developed this Fifth National Development Plan.
The FNDP and associated Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEFs) will be the link between the National Long Term Vision 2030 (NLTV) and the annual activity based national budgets. The FNDP and the MTEFs have been developed based on a well-articulated and shared Vision 2030 that forms a rallying point for all development effort in the next twenty-five years. The National Vision is “to become a prosperous middle income country by the year 2030.”
The theme of the FNDP is broad based wealth and job creation through citizenry participation and technological advancement. Within this overall theme, the FNDP stands on two sub-themes, namely: an economic sub-theme and a social sub-theme.
In the context of the above, the realisation of the FNDP goals requires the following interventions: (i) macroeconomic policies, (ii) macroeconomic policies (poverty reduction, housing and water and sanitation improvement, public investment in education and health, social safety nets, and pro-employment economic growth and sound labour administration), (iii) rural sector policies, ( irrigation development, attainment of food security, an livestock development, (iv) urban sector policies (safe water and sanitation, waste management, improved land management, and manufacturing and services sectors growth, (v) cross-cutting issues (mainstreaming HIV and AIDS, gender mainstreaming, ensuring environmental sustainability improved land management).
In order to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, the plan seeks to optimize the nutritional status of all section of the Zambian population. Strategies to be implemented are: (i) to develop and/or advocate for policy formulation and programmes that will ensure food and nutrition security, food quality, and safety at individual household, community, and national level, (ii) to effectively formulate, coordinate, and monitor food and nutrition programmes in order to improve delivery and access to nutrition services, (iii) to conduct comprehensive surveys and research on food and nutrition in order to provide appropriate interventions, (iv) to develop human resources in the food and nutrition sector in order to improve the delivery of nutrition services, (v) to reduce all forms of malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies and establish safe levels of nutrient intake for Zambia, (vi) to provide food and nutrition awareness for positive nutrition behaviour change.
In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the key interventions in agriculture will be the improvement of agricultural productivity, especially for small-scale farmers by, among others, reviving and strengthening agricultural extension services. Other programmes will include the enhancement of animal health and livestock production and extension; agricultural research; and technological development. The encouragement of diversification in the production of both staple and cash crops to ensure food security and the development of irrigation and support services have also been accorded priority. Other key interventions shall be the continuation of the on-going land development programme of opening up new farming blocks for commercial development.
Regarding the reduction of the rural poverty, the plan envisages to provide the policy and legal framework on employment creation, labour administration and social protection in order to contribute to the enhancement of job creation and productivity. In addition, the government plans to contribute to the security of all vulnerable Zambians by ensuring that incapacitated and low capacity households have sufficient livelihood security to meet basic needs, and are protected from the worst impacts of risks and shocks. Finally, the government plans also to achieve increased empowerment and participation of children and youth in all areas affecting their well-being and livelihood and enhance observance and protection of their rights in order to build a sound human resource base, contribute to wealth creation and ensure socially optimal investments and sustainable national development.
To enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the government plans to improve the quality of locally produced goods and services and increase Zambia’s share in world exports. The main programmes and strategies for the sector are following: (i) to strengthen and decentralize the administration of testing and certification, (ii) to secure improved market access for Zambian goods and services, (iii), elimination of trade-related supply constraints, (iv) the enhancement of domestic trade and competition.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters the government plans to reverse environmental damage, maintain essential environmental and biological processes and ensure sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of the people.” Key strategies to be implemented are: (i) to improve institutional capacity and coordination for environmental management, (ii) to promote sustainable development by minimizing irreversible environmental damage, biodiversity loss, waste production and pollution, (iii) to promote public participation and a sense of responsibility for the environment, (iv) to mainstream gender and HIV and AIDS in environmental concerns.
In the context of governance, in terms of institutional linkages, the flow of the FNDP information between community and national level structures will be multi-directional, from community to national level and vice-versa. The overall coordination of the implementation of the FNDP will rest with MFNP with the full participation of line ministries, other government institutions, civil society, and cooperating partners.