The Ngabwe District Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is a spatial development framework aimed at promoting and guiding the socio-economic development of Ngabwe District. The Plan is anchored on the Vision of 'A developed and self-sustaining district by 2034,' to improve the living standards of the people of Ngabwe while ensuring the prudent and sustainable utilization of the district’s natural resources. Through this vision, the district seeks to leverage its available resources and opportunities to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. The IDP is a roadmap to guide the development of the district and unlock the district’s potential to drive socio-economic development in the district. Implementation of the plan will require collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the plan, which will ultimately lead to achieving a developed and self-sustainable district by 2034. The key priorities of the Ngabwe District’s Vision are (i) Development concerning the improvement of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools and health facilities, while leveraging the district’s natural resources and comparative advantages to promote local economic development, create employment and improve livelihoods; (ii) Sustainability, promoting a development that meets present needs without compromising those of future generations. The district will sustainably manage its natural resources and promote a balance between environmental protection, social equity and economic development; (iii) Economic Transformation and Job Creation, strengthening growth enablers such as energy, road connectivity, water supply and sanitation, while promoting growth drivers including agriculture, livestock, fisheries and tourism. Value addition, industrial development and market linkages will be encouraged to create employment and stimulate the local economy; (iv) Human and Social Development, reducing poverty and improving access to education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation. Particular attention will be given to vulnerable groups, women and girls, through social welfare, literacy and education programmes, while addressing challenges such as teenage pregnancies and early marriages; (v) Environmental Sustainability, through protection and sustainable management of key natural resources, including rivers, swamps, and forests. The district will promote community awareness, conservation and nature-based approaches to development; (vi) Good Governance, strengthening coordinated planning and implementation through district and sub-district structures, while promoting sound land governance and improving access to land for women and vulnerable groups. The proposed land use policies for the Ngabwe IDP aim to promote sustainable economic development by balancing social, economic and environmental needs. Key measures include protecting the swamps and other wetlands by promoting sustainable fishing and directing growth nodes and development corridors away from sensitive wetland areas; protecting forest reserves from deforestation, illegal settlement and unsustainable timber and charcoal production through alternative livelihood opportunities and appropriate land-use planning; promoting self-contained neighbourhoods by distributing economic activities, industries, schools, health facilities and other services across the district to reduce spatial inequalities and pressure on natural resources; preserving and expanding green and open spaces within neighbourhoods, public areas and development zones; and promoting mixed land-use development by integrating residential, commercial, economic, educational and health facilities to support balanced population growth and local economic development. The proposed policies to reduce Ngabwe District’s vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks, particularly flooding and droughts affecting vulnerable communities living near rivers, wetlands and other climate-sensitive areas, focus on protecting and restoring environmentally sensitive areas by maintaining a 100-metre buffer along the main rivers, prohibiting development in wetlands and controlling waste disposal near water bodies. The district will promote nature-based solutions, tree planting and reforestation in forest reserves and public and private areas, and rainwater harvesting, particularly in flood-prone communities. In addition, the policies seek to protect cultural heritage sites and strengthen the district’s preparedness and resilience by developing a Disaster Risk Reduction Plan and a Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policy. Local knowledge and appropriate technologies will also be integrated into nature-based solutions to address climate risks in specific areas of the district. The Implementation Plan comprises 3 key components, the Capital Investment Plan, Local Authority’s Financial Plan, and Monitoring Plan: (1) the Capital Investment Plan outlines the costs, funding sources and implementing institutions for programmes identified in the Development Framework; (2) the Financial Plan reviews the Local Authority’s revenue and expenditure trends from 2018–2022 and provides projections for 2023–2027 to assess its financial capacity to implement planned programmes; (3) the Monitoring Plan outlines the monitoring arrangements, responsible institutions and expected outputs to ensure effective implementation and accountability.
Zambia · 2024-01-01