Acting Deputy Clerk (Administration) Opens the 2022 Research Department Capacity Building Workshop

The National Assembly of Zambia’s Research Department is conducting a two (2) day capacity building workshop from 21st to 22nd December, 2022, at Waterfalls Hotel in Chongwe district. The workshop was officially opened by Mrs Loveness Mayaka, Acting Deputy Clerk – Administration. The training workshop is being attended by all staff in the Research Department. Facilitators of the workshop were drawn from the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) and Oxfam Zambia.

The overall objective of the training is to enhance the capacity of the Research Department in conducting basic research and data analysis, among others. The workshop further aims at reviewing certain Research products and services, in order to provide a basis for redefining the mandate of the Department.

In her speech, Mrs Mayaka, informed the participants that the training was in line with the National Assembly of Zambia Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026, which gives prominence to capacity building programmes, not only for Members of Parliament (MPs), but for staff as well. She further reminded the participants that there was need to provide parliamentarians with reliable and evidence based information that would help them perform their functions effectively.

The Acting Deputy Clerk also took the opportunity to encourage the Research Department, to take advantage of the political will that had been exhibited by the Hon Madam Speaker, regarding the use of evidence in the Institution. She indicated that on several occasions, Madam Speaker had emphasised to MPs, on the Floor of the House, to utilise the services of the Research Department to enable them access and use reliable information in the execution of their parliamentary work.