Revised Sixth National Development Plan 2013-2016

The Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP) 2013-2016 is a medium term plan that is primarily aimed at refocusing Government priorities and policies to be in line with the Patriotic Front development paradigm.
The thrust of this revised Plan is to accelerate growth further and promote viable livelihoods of the Zambian people, especially in the rural areas. The Plan will therefore focus on investing in a few selected sectors that will have the greatest impact on job creation, rural development and inclusive growth. It should be noted, however, that funds will continue to be availed to other sectors over the Plan period.
In line with the above focus, the revised Plan has the following overarching objectives: (i) to promote employment and job creation through targeted and strategic investments in selected sectors, (ii) to promote rural development by promoting agricultural development, rural enterprises and providing support infrastructure in rural areas, (iii) to enhance human development by investing in the social sectors, and (iv) to accelerate infrastructure development to enhance the growth potential of the economy.
In order to achieve these objectives, emphasis will be placed on the following sectors: Science and Technology, Agriculture, Energy, Infrastructure Development, Health, Education and Water and Sanitation.
In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the government will promote and enhance crop diversification from maize to other crops such as soya beans, wheat, rice, cashew nuts, beans, cotton, groundnuts, coffee, tea, oil crops and tubers. In addition, measures will be undertaken to increase area under irrigation, increase area planted through development of farm blocks, enhance productivity through expansion and decentralisation of research and extension services, promote the utilisation of improved seed varieties and other improved agricultural technologies, and promote farm mechanization.
In the livestock sub-sector, the focus will be to increase livestock numbers through the establishment of livestock breeding centres, promotion of artificial insemination, construction of dams and canals to support agriculture production and establishment of milk collection centres. Priority will also be put on infrastructure development and rehabilitation, enhancing livestock disease control including compulsory dipping, surveillance and research, developing livestock standards and grades, and promoting processing of livestock and livestock products. In the fisheries sub-sector, the strategic focus will be on development of smallholder aquaculture and improvement of infrastructure for fisheries research and marketing as well as promoting co-management of capture fisheries in natural water bodies to ensure sustainability of fisheries resources.
Regarding the reduction of rural poverty, during the Plan period the Government will implement the industrialisation and job creation strategy that highlights a number of reforms and measures aimed at reducing the levels of unemployment while facilitating private sector participation in job creation. Further, the following are the broad objectives that will guide national and provincial initiatives targeted at rural development: (i) to prioritise rural and regional development, (ii) to reduce the number of people living in abject poverty in rural areas, and (iii) to make rural areas attractive places to live and work.
In the context of governance, the implementation, monitoring and evaluation functions will be undertaken at different levels of Government. At the provincial and districts levels, Provincial Development Coordinating Committees (PDCCs) and District Development Coordinating Committees (DDCCs) will continue to provide advisory services. Similarly, provincial and district administrations will continue their core function of programme implementation. At national level, Cabinet Office will coordinate policy analysis and implementation, while the Ministry of Finance will be responsible for programme coordination, implementation and monitoring and evaluation processes. At sector level, Sector Ministries will continue to undertake programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation, with the advisory support of Sector Advisory Groups (SAGs). Within this context, and through the Joint Monitoring, Evaluation and Statistics Working Group, the participation of non-state actors will augment M&E and statistical capacities at national, provincial and district levels.