LocationsStrengthening Planning and Budgeting at the Local Level
March 24, 2026
Zambia is strengthening decentralised planning and budgeting through practical tools and capacity support to help local authorities translate national priorities and the SDGs into coordinated, inclusive, and measurable development outcomes at the community level.
Overview
With about 4 years to the 2030 Agenda endline, countries are racing towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The world continues to grapple with unprecedented challenges, exposing the fragile systems and threatening progress towards the 2030 Agenda, thus “Localizing the SDGs” brings opportunities for shaping responses and planning for a sustainable recovery. In Zambia, the Government is putting in place deliberate mechanisms to accelerate progress of the SDGs through the decentralization agenda.
The Decentralization Policy as enshrined in the Constitutional Amendment Act No.2 of 2016 (Article 147), mandates the devolution of structures from national to local government levels by 2027, empowering local councils to manage local affairs and resources. Therefore, local action and leadership are thus essential to identify innovative, collective, and coordinated pathways for sustainable development.
Planning and budgeting play an integral process to achieving development for any nation as it aligns the nations’ goal with financial reality, and aids in ensuring that resources are used efficiently in driving sustainable development. Through the Joint SDG Fund, UNDP has been supporting the country to localize the SDGs in Solwezi, Katete and Petauke by developing a toolkit which supports planning and budgeting at the local level, in alignment with the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP), the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The issue at hand
Despite strong national commitments, several structural challenges limit the ability of Local Governments to fully operationalize decentralization. Firstly, planning frameworks are not always aligned. For instance, while the 8NDP operates on a five-year cycle, the IDPs at the district level span ten years, which can create inconsistencies in planning, budgeting, and reporting processes. There are also opportunities to further strengthen the equity of resource allocation at the sub-national level. Districts with varying levels of development often receive broadly similar allocations, which may not always sufficiently reflect differing needs and starting points. This can constrain the ability of less developed districts to accelerate progress and respond fully to local priorities.
Secondly, effective planning also depends on reliable data and evidence. However, many districts face significant challenges in generating and using local data to guide development priorities. Weak monitoring and evaluation systems also limit the ability of districts to track progress and contribute to national development reporting.
Thirdly, inclusive participation is also essential for effective local development. Yet, in many districts, meaningful participation of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in planning and budgeting processes remains limited. There is also a strong need for engagement with traditional leaders who play an influential role in local governance structures to promote local ownership of development initiatives.
Lastly, as Zambia advances its decentralization agenda, the Ward Development Committees (WDCs) play an increasingly important role in ensuring that development planning reflects the needs and priorities of communities. These committees act as the primary lowest level structure for local development. They are responsible for identifying the local needs of their communities and formulating their Ward Development Plans (WDPs) that then align with the IDPs of the respective districts and then into the broader National Development Framework. However, despite their critical role, many WDCs face capacity constraints that limit their ability to effectively participate in development planning and budgeting.
In many cases, WDC members have limited tools and technical guidance to align community priorities with broader development frameworks such as the SDGs, 8NDP, and IDPs. At the same time, limited feedback mechanisms between local authorities and Ward Development Committees (WDCs) weaken coordination between community priorities and district planning. This issue is then compounded by limited capacity of the Local Authorities to effectively identify and forecast local own- resource mobilization for local development.
Thus, as decentralization reforms continue to channel more resources to the district level, the need for stronger planning and coordination mechanisms between the WDCs and the local authorities has become even more important.
Figure 1: Institutional Arrangements for Coordination of the 8NDP
Together, these challenges create a gap between national development ambitions and the realities of implementation at the local level. Without strengthened planning systems, improved coordination between governance structures, and better use of local data, districts risk struggling to translate decentralisation reforms into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Our Solution
Recognising the growing responsibilities of Local Authorities and WDCs under Zambia’s decentralization reforms, there was a clear need for practical tools to strengthen planning, budgeting, and coordination at the local level. While districts and wards are increasingly responsible for driving development, many local structures still face challenges translating national priorities such as the SDGs and the 8NDP into concrete local actions.
To address some of these challenges, the Joint Programme on SDG Localization supported the development of a National Planning and Budgeting Orientation Toolkit for Local Authorities and WDCs. The toolkit provides practical guidance and structured tools to strengthen the capacity of Local Authorities and WDCs. In particular, the toolkit is designed to address key challenges affecting local governance, including limited planning and budgeting capacity at the ward level in alignment with the SDGs, as well as weak feedback mechanisms between WDCs and local authorities. By providing structured tools and guidance, the toolkit helps strengthen transparency, participation, and alignment in local planning and budgeting processes.
Table 1: UNDPs Solution
Local Governance Challenge | How the SDG Localisation Toolkit Addressed the Issue | Expected Impact at Local Level |
| Planning and budgeting capacity centrally located | The toolkit provides practical guidance, tools, and templates that enable district planners and local authorities to conduct planning and budgeting processes at the district and ward level. | Decentralises planning capacity and empowers local authorities to lead development planning processes more effectively. |
| More resources being allocated to wards under decentralisation | The toolkit equips local structures with planning and budgeting frameworks to ensure that increased resources are allocated strategically and aligned with district priorities and SDG targets. | Improves efficient and strategic use of ward-level resources to address local development needs. |
| Lack of capacity of Ward Development Committees (WDCs) to plan and budget in alignment with the SDGs, 8NDP, and IDPs | The toolkit includes capacity-building modules, simplified planning guidelines, and alignment tools that help WDCs link community priorities to district plans, national development priorities, and the SDGs. | Strengthens the ability of WDCs to contribute meaningfully to evidence-based and aligned development planning. |
| Lack of feedback mechanisms between local authorities and WDCs | The toolkit introduces structured consultation processes and participatory planning approaches that encourage continuous engagement between councils and WDCs during planning and budgeting cycles. | Improves communication, coordination, and accountability between community structures and local government. |
What gaps remain and still need to be done
While the SDG Localisation Toolkit aims to strengthen planning, budgeting, and coordination processes at the local level, several structural challenges continue to limit the full potential of decentralized development. These include gaps in local data and monitoring systems, limited infrastructure, inequitable resource allocation mechanisms, and the need for stronger inclusion of Women, Youth and PWDs in development decision-making. Addressing these challenges will require sustained investment, strengthened partnerships, and continued support to local governance systems. Continued support is therefore essential to scale these solutions, strengthen evidence-based planning, and ensure that decentralisation reforms translate into tangible development outcomes for communities across Zambia.
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