THE PRE-BUDGET FORUM 2023

Every year, the Zambian government, through the Ministry of Finance, announces the proposed budget to the National Assembly. The budget allocation to the education sector saw a slight increase from 2022’s 10.4% to 13.9% in 2023. This shows a progressive improvement in the Education budget allocation to the education sector. However, being a signatory to both the Cairo and the SADC protocols, Zambia has committed to allocate at least 20% of its total national budget to the education sector. It is with this background that on the 1st of June 2023, NAQEZ united with ZANEC, and ActionAid through the TAX-ED Alliance in hosting a Pre-Budget Forum Meeting that would see to it that there would be more funding towards the education sector in line with the 4S Framework (Size, Share, Scrutiny and Sensitivity). The Forum attracted the presence of 10 Parliamentarians, including Hon. Mutinta Twaambo, the MP Chair for the Education Committee, who emphasized government’s eagerness to collaborate with civil society in the betterment of the country’s citizens. Civil Society Representatives labored to give context to the theme of the year emphasizing the rising need to domestically mobilize resource to ensure that the Education Sector is fully funded and capacitated.