US commits to poverty reduction in Zambia

THE United States (US) stands in support of Zambia’s vision to reduce poverty and provide tangible resources to those in greatest need, USAID /Zambia Deputy Mission Director Thomas Crubaugh has said.

This will be done through Zambia's Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

Mr Crubaugh said the newly launched Service Efficiency and Effectiveness for Vulnerable Children and Adolescents Programme (SEEVCA) would build upon the ministry’s programme that has mapped out the systems and funding to extremely vulnerable households.

Mr Crubaugh was speaking at the weekend in Kitwe at the launch of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and USAID SEEVCA programme in Twatasha Township.

He said the SEEVCA was a $10 million-programme commitment to combine social pro- tection successes with proven care-management approaches.

"SEEVCA will build upon the ministry's current programme that has mapped out the systems and funding to deliver cash transfers to extremely vulnerable households. The SEEVCA programme will enable us to increase systems investments and expand the coverage of cash transfers.

"SEEVCA will help keep girls in schools, help reduce exposure to violence and family separation, improve food and nutrition security, and prevent HIV infections and child marriage. SEEVCA is designed to sustain the gains we have made together in HIV pandemic control,'' Mr Crubaugh said.

Mr Crubaugh said, every year, USAID programming supports over 500,000 vulnerable young people and their families.

He said Zambia's youths were held back by lack of education, resources, skills and gainful employment while many more become parents too early.