CHILD BUDGET PROJECT
The overall goal is to contribute to the national budgeting policy and process that is responsive to the realization of children’s rights.
The specific objectives of the project are to contribute to a national budget which is Child friendly, to promote child participation in budget advocacy, to raise awareness on how the national budget is linked to the realisation of children’s economic and social rights, to enhance networking of child-focused civil society organisations on child budget analysis and tracking, and to track the budget implementation.
ZCEA uses the following strategies in implementing the project:-
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Budget and policy analysis, public awareness of the national budget, training of children in the national budget process, research and networking, tracking budget implementation and formulating submissions into the national budget.
Budget analysis is conducted annually to determine the amounts of allocation to child programmes in the national budget. The budget analysis is conducted in relation to education, health, housing and community amenities, social protection, and recreation for children. These sectors are considered essential for the well being and development of the child. Therefore related to the analysis is advocating for the increased allocation of resources to these sectors. Budget analysis is linked to policy analysis as the allocations in the national budget are in accordance with the provisions of the existing public policies. Therefore, ZCEA analyses child related public polices or public policies that have a bearing on the wellbeing of children to assess how child friendly they are.
As input into the national budget making process, ZCEA in consultation with the members of the Child Budget Network (CBN) formulates proposals that are submitted to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Budget Office for consideration for the following year’s national budget. This process takes into consideration research findings, outcomes of analyses of the policy and the previous year’s budget.
As part of implementation ZCEA collaborates with like minded Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at country level and SADC regional level. ZCEA coordinates the Child Budget Network which is a national coalition of CSO that are working to promote children’s rights. The CBN creates an opportunity for CSOs to share ideas and jointly address children’s budget issues in Zambia. The CBN meets every quarter and whenever need arises. ZCEA has in the past conducted training workshops for the network members. At regional level ZCEA is part of the Imali Yemwana SADC Child Budget Network. The Imali Yemwana is a network of eight organisations drawn from eight SADC countries. Imali advocates for the effective and efficient allocation and utilization of resources in government budgets to advance the rights of children.
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