Salutations
1. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Dr. Douty Chibamba;
2. The Director: Risk Management Ministry of Finance and National Planning Ms. Barabina Mumba;
3. The Director: Forest Department, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment
4. The Members of Parliament from The Parliamentary Caucus on Environment and Climate Change;
5. Other Senior Government Officials who may be present;
6. Civil Society Organizations;
7. Our all whether friends from the media;
8. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning, everyone
I’m honoured and privileged to welcome you to the official launch of our much-anticipated report on the Gap Analysis and Corruption Risk Vulnerability Assessment of Climate and Carbon Finance Mechanisms in Zambia.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Today marks a significant milestone, as after nearly a year of dedicated research and collaboration, we are proud to present the findings of this comprehensive report. The Gap Analysis and Corruption Risk Vulnerability Assessment was conducted under a TI-Z project called the Climate Change Integrity Project (CGIP), which is part of our broader Climate Change, Environment, and Sustainability programme focus area. This project is a cornerstone of our 2023–2027 strategic mandate, aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in climate finance, land, and environmental governance.
CGIP, a three-year initiative funded by the Waverly Street Foundation with support from Transparency International Secretariat, is dedicated to enhancing transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in Zambia’s climate policy and government frameworks, with an emphasis on three main areas, namely Climate Policy, Climate Action, and Climate Justice.
• Climate Policy aims to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the policy-making process.
• Climate Action, focuses on enhancing accountability, integrity, and oversight of climate-related initiatives at both global and local levels.
• Climate Justice focuses on achieving better justice outcomes for those affected by environmental crimes and corruption.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen. Allow me to share some key insights from the report. Overall, the report evaluates Zambia’s legal and regulatory frameworks and associated corruption risks, particularly in carbon markets and climate forest initiatives. The gap analysis identifies vulnerabilities in climate finance and trading mechanisms, especially considering the growing interest in carbon trading in Zambia. It highlights the significant amounts of funding required for climate mitigation and adaptation, which in turn elevate corruption risks in these areas.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Before going further into the substantive key findings, it’s important to recognize the strides made by the Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment in addressing climate change. Significant progress has been made, particularly with the Climate Change Bill, which is expected to be enacted into law later this year. Additionally, the Ministry has approved guidelines for mitigation activities under the Paris Agreement and the Carbon Market Framework for Zambia, aimed at enhancing regulation and mechanisms for carbon markets.
In 2023, the government further demonstrated its commitment by launching the National Determined Contributions Implementation Framework, aligning national and sectoral policies to guide Zambia towards a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy.
We also note that on 18th September 2024, the Ministry launched the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme, a $63.9 million project supported by the World Bank. TI-Z will take keen interest in this initiative to ensure transparency, integrity, inclusivity and accountability are applied across the three programme components to ensure equitable climate financing to rural communities within Eastern Province.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to now return to some of the substantive findings of the report we are launching today.
1. One of the highlighted risks in the report pertains to the Climate Finance Corruption Risk Vulnerability Assessment, where there is a lack of transparency in climate finance due to insufficient checks and balances, creating the potential for misappropriation of funds.
2. With regard to Policy and Decision-Making Capture, there is a real risk that elites and community leaders may unduly influence decisions for personal gain without consulting affected communities.
3. The report further highlights risks related to information disclosure, with corrupt practices such as requests for personal benefits before signing agreements for carbon credits being a matter of grave concern.
4. There are also risks related to Benefit-Sharing Transparency, which include rent-seeking behavior by officials or leaders and the exclusion of women in community boards, leading to projects that don’t meet women’s priorities and needs.
There will be a more detailed presentation highlighting all these risks and vulnerabilities as highlighted in the report.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to take this moment to thank the TI-Z team, particularly the CGIP project team, the TI Secretariat team, and our esteemed stakeholders from the Government, private sector, CSOs, and other organizations, whose hard work made this assessment and analysis possible. I also express gratitude to all respondents who contributed to the research.
As we launch this report, I urge everyone to engage deeply with its findings and consider how we can work together to drive meaningful change. I especially call upon the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to heed the report’s recommendations, particularly in light of the recently launched Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme supported by the World Bank. This initiative offers a vital opportunity for Zambia, and it is crucial that transparency, integrity, and accountability remain at the forefront of its implementation.
With these few remarks, I’d like to warmly welcome you all to this launch, and I thank you most sincerely for your attention. God bless you.
