​During the second quarter of 2021, JCTR under the faith and Justice Programme conducted formation workshops aimed at increasing knowledge among young people about the significance of Economic Social and Cultural Rights and the need for them to be enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
To prove its relevance in governance issues vis a viz electoral processes prior to August 2021 General Elections, JCTR in partnership with Action Aid Zambia, conducted voter education for the media in Livingstone and Kitwe in order to remind them of their mandate in informing, educating and entertaining the masses. Key to note is the promotion of active citizen participation among men, women and the youths in the electoral processes before, during and after elections. Read more

During the first quarter of 2021, JCTR undertook a study on budgetary allocations to enhance children’s rights to provide an in-depth understanding on issues relating to financing towards children’s rights. Stakeholder’s and partner’s meetings were held with the aim of getting information from the Office of the Commissioner of Children (OCC).
Zambia’s debt has risen to US$18.5 Billion with external debt standing at US$12.74 Billion. Zambia’s current US$18.5 billion Public Debt has trapped the country into a vicious debt cycle making the country constrained economically, financially and socially. The country’s economic and fiscal fitness are seriously constrained, making it difficult to adequately fund the social delivery services, thereby worsening the living standards and conditions of ordinary citizens, especially the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable.
As one of the major highlights for the quarter, it is important to mention that the cost of living in Zambia has continued to rise with the current one standing above eight thousand six hundred for an average family of five.
We hope you are going to find the information provided in this newsletter very helpful.  We wish you happy reading and we thank you for your continued support and partnership. Read More....

The Jesuit Centre For Theological Reflection (JCTR) understands the importance of community participation in the budget processes as enshrined in Article 205(d) part XVI of the constitution under Public Finance and Budget. There, in the quest to encourage and involve the community members in this  very important process, JCTR is conducting a training workshop on Budget submissions among members of the community in Mongu western province. 

The purpose of this meeting was to improve and increase access to Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR)

​In order to ensure children's participation in the national budget process, JCTR held budget submission meetings with children and community members in Lufwanyama and Kitwe districts of the Copperbelt. Many issues and challenges were identified by children in their communities and some of the things that children what to see in the 2021 national budget were;

​1. Increased budgetary allocation towards the purchase of learning and teaching material
2. Deployment of more qualified health workers and teachers
3. Improved and increased spending on social cash transfer
4. Procurement of more desks
5 Construction of more classrooms especially in the rural areas and the extension of keeping girls in school programme to non-recipients of the social cash transfer households.

JCTR also facilitated the participation of two girls (from Kitwe and Lufwanyama) in the online discussion on Covid -19 with other children from West, East and South Africa where Zambia and Malawi were voted to represent other children during the launch of the policy brief that Save The Children (SCI) has compiled.