LocationsBreaking Barriers: Zambia Unveils Landmark Policy and Guidelines for Disability Inclusion in National Development
May 29, 2025
Stakeholders display the documents after the launch.
Lusaka, Zambia – 29th May 2025 The Government of Zambia, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has officially launched the National Policy on Persons with Disabilities and the National Disability Mainstreaming Guidelines. This milestone signifies a substantial advancement in promoting disability inclusion and ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all citizens.
The launch event, held in Lusaka, was attended by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ms. Angela Chomba Kawandami, along with key stakeholders, including representatives from government ministries, UN agencies, cooperating partners, organisations for persons with disabilities, civil society organisations, and the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD).
Speaking on behalf of the UNDP Resident Representative Dr. James Wakiaga, Mr. Gregory Saili, UNDP Governance Advisor, emphasized the importance of addressing the barriers faced by persons with disabilities, including physical, institutional, and attitudinal challenges. He highlighted that these barriers often lead to marginalisation and exclusion, particularly for women and girls with disabilities, who experience intersecting forms of discrimination.
“The inequalities that persons with disabilities experience—in education, health, employment, justice, and civic life—are not inevitable. They are the result of structural, political, social, and cultural environments that fail to accommodate diversity. Inaccessible infrastructure and digital platforms, institutional and attitudinal barriers, and limited participation in decision-making all combine to create a system where inclusion is the exception, not the norm,” said Mr. Saili.
The National Policy on Persons with Disabilities and the Disability Mainstreaming Guidelines launched today, aim to promote non-discrimination, equality of opportunity, and full participation in society. These principles align with Zambia’s Persons with Disabilities Act No. 6 of 2012, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UNDP supports disability inclusion through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and believes that sustainable development is only possible if it is inclusive and rights-based. UNDP stressed that its approach focuses on building the capacity of both duty-bearers—the state and its institutions—and rights-holders—persons with disabilities and their representative organisations. Only when both sides are empowered can meaningful participation and accountability be achieved.
And in her remarks, read on her behalf by Ms. Angela Chomba Kawandami, Honourable Minister Doreen Mwamba expressed the government’s dedication to building a society that fully recognizes, respects, and realizes the rights of persons with disabilities. She called on all stakeholders to work together to ensure that inclusion becomes the norm across all sectors of development.
“This marks our significant milestone journey in the country towards building an inclusive society. The documents are not merely policies and guidelines but a call to action, national commitment, and collective vision of a Zambia where every citizen, regardless of ability, has equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from all aspects of life,” said Ms. Angela Chomba Kawandami, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, on behalf of the Minister, Mrs. Doreen Mwamba.
Key Milestones Celebrated
UNDP has played a pivotal role in supporting disability-inclusive development in Zambia. Some of the key achievements highlighted during the launch include:
- Development of the National Disability Mainstreaming Guidelines and technical support for the National Policy on Persons with Disabilities.
- Formulation of the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan for ZAPD.
- Creation of a Handbook on National Planning, Budgeting, and Monitoring & Evaluation, empowering over 150 Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) across four provinces.
- Development of a Training Manual on Entrepreneurship and Business Management, promoting economic empowerment and independent living of persons with disabilities. Over 150 OPDs from 4 provinces have been trained.
- Capacity Assessment of OPDs to strengthen advocacy for disability inclusion.
Looking Ahead UNDP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Government of Zambia in advancing CRPD-compliant budgeting and ensuring that persons with disabilities actively participate in tracking public resource allocation and expenditure. These efforts will be integrated into Zambia’s National Development Plans to ensure resources for disability inclusion are effectively utilized.
A Call for Inclusive Development
This landmark launch represents a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive Zambia, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to national development.
“The policy embodies our shared commitment to removing the barriers, stigma and creating an environment where persons with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of society. So I challenge each of us here today: let us not leave inclusion to chance. Let us move from policy on paper to inclusion in practice,” said Mr. James Kapembwa, the ZAPD Board Chairperson.
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Contact Information: Mercy Khozi, mercy.khozi@undp.org.zm on +260966750787 and Dr. Samuel Kapingidza, samuel.kapingidza@undp.org on +260976252033
About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
In order to access the launched documents, please click the links below:
National Policy on Persons with Disabilities Guidelines: Click here
National Disability Mainstreaming Guidelines: Click here