— ZIPAR backs Chikwanda’s call for fair distribution CDF

The Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) has backed government’s call for a ‘

ZIPAR Executive Director Pamela Kabaso has since recommended for the introduction of a ‘needs-based’ funding model to guarantee fairness in distribution of CDF.

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda’s recently said in parliament that there was need for a fairer distribution of CDF.

Mrs. Kabaso said Mr. Chikwanda’s proposal for a ‘fair distribution of resources’ can be achieved was welcome, adding that it is ZIPAR’s hope that this proposal will be taken on board immediately.

She said Mr. Chikwanda’s assertion that the current arrangements for distributing the CDF is ‘not fair’ is correct as each constituency receives the same level of funding, irrespective of factors such as levels of poverty and deprivation.

ZANIS reports that the ZIPAR Executive Director said in a statement released in Lusaka today.

She stated that the Minister’s comments reflect the findings from the research ZIPAR conducted on the distribution of CDF.

Mrs. Kabaso said ZIPAR’S research shows that the current CDF allocation is particularly problematic for rural constituencies which are much poorer than urban constituencies.

She said because there is no attempt to take account of different levels of deprivation and poverty under the current CDF arrangement, each constituency receives the same amount of funding.

She said the current allocation means that a relatively affluent constituency in Lusaka where only a small percentage of its population lacks access to proper water supply gets the same level of funding as the most deprived constituency in Western Province, where a higher percentage of its population lack access to water supply.

Mrs. Kabaso said to ensure that there is a fairer distribution of resources, ZIPAR recommends the introduction of a ‘needs-based’ funding formula with more deprived constituencies receiving more resources than the more affluent constituencies.

The ZIPAR Executive Director said funding would be targeted in areas that experience higher levels of poverty, or where the cost of delivering services is higher.