Growing Together Project launched in Kalumbila
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Top StoriesWorld Vision Zambia working in collaboration with Vision Fund Zambia has launched the Growing Together Project in Kalumbila district. The three-year initiative is being supported by funding from the Austrian Development Agency through the European Recovery Program Fund aims to…
World Vision Zambia working in collaboration with Vision Fund Zambia has launched the Growing Together Project in Kalumbila district.
The three-year initiative is being supported by funding from the Austrian Development Agency through the European Recovery Program Fund aims to address gender inequalities and economic barriers affecting refugees and host communities in Meheba Refugee Settlement and neighbouring Kananga and Kayonge communities.
Speaking during the district stakeholder start-up meeting in Kalumbila today, District Commissioner Brenda Sankisa welcomed the project, describing it as timely and relevant in promoting gender equality, economic empowerment and peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities.
Ms Sankisa called on government departments and cooperating partners to actively participate in project implementation and monitoring to ensure that interventions complement district development priorities and existing government programmes.
She further urged World Vision Zambia and Vision Fund Zambia to maintain close stakeholder engagement, promote transparent beneficiary selection and ensure that project activities respond to community needs.
Growing Together Project Manager Auggie Shinchende explained that the initiative seeks to reduce gender inequalities by empowering women and girls in refugee and host communities to exercise equal rights, participate in decision-making and overcome harmful social practices.
He said the project will focus on economic empowerment and financial inclusion through savings groups, financial literacy, climate-smart agriculture, entrepreneurship, access to markets and financial services.
Ms Shinchende said it will also promote gender-transformative social norms by challenging harmful stereotypes, encouraging respectful relationships and strengthening the participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities in community development.
He said the project is targeting 1,050 direct beneficiaries in Zambia, comprising 650 host community members and 400 refugees, with women and girls expected to constitute 70 percent of beneficiaries.
Ms Sankisa further emphasised the importance of safeguarding vulnerable groups and ensuring that project beneficiaries have accessible channels to raise concerns and provide feedback.
She urged stakeholders to establish clear coordination mechanisms and follow-up actions to avoid duplication of activities and promote sustainability beyond the project period.
An additional 4,200 people are expected to benefit indirectly from the initiative.
The Growing Together Project is expected to strengthen household livelihoods, improve financial resilience and promote inclusive development among refugees and host communities in Kalumbila District.
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