Members of Parliament urged to advocate for Food Security in Zambia

Members of Parliament have been encouraged to leverage their legislative, budgeting and oversight role by enacting impactful policies and allocate resources for sustainable food system transformation. This was during a workshop organized by the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). 
The one and half day workshop was held at Chita Lodge in Kafue from Saturday, 21st to Sunday 22nd September, 2024. 
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Lillian Kapusana, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President, called upon the Members of Parliament to leverage their legislative, budgetary, and oversight roles to enact impactful policies and allocate resources for sustainable food system transformation.
Mrs. Kapusana further stated that food insecurity and malnutrition continue to pose significant challenges to the development of our country. “It impairs our economic growth, raises healthcare costs, and undermines the very foundations of our national development.”
She encouraged the Members of Parliament to amplify our collective voice and ensure that food security and nutrition become top priorities in national policies and budgetary decisions.   
The workshop was attended by eighteen Members of Parliament from the Parliamentary Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition. The Alliance was established in May, 2022 to serve as a platform for advocating food security and nutrition, policies at a national level. It also aims to guide responsible investments in agriculture and food systems.