CSPR Zambia

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) is a civil society network that has been building the voice for poor in the fight against poverty. It was established in 2000, primarily to ensure that civil society effectively and meaningfully participates in the design, formulation and implementation of the National Development Plans (NDP) and further monitor the NDPs to ensure government provides a means by which Zambia can effectively strategize on reducing the escalating levels of poverty. Since the third quarter of 2000, and in response to an invitation from the Zambian Government, the civil society in Zambia has been participating in the process of formulating and monitoring the NDP for the country, and hence sought the need to form a network that would enhance the effectiveness of this participation. This move was mainly meant to: Coordinate and collaborate civil society’s participation in the NDP and thus ensure wider participation from all stakeholders; Disseminate and exchange information on issues of poverty reduction in general and the NDP in particular to local and international partners; Be the representative voice of civil society in lobbying government to exercise greater responsibility and good governance and thus extend the necessary political will and commitment to poverty reduction activities; and Strengthen lateral learning among civil society and therefore build financial and technical capacities among civil society and other stakeholders for them to fully engage in the PRSP development