KABANDA CHULU, Lusaka
OVER 25,000 teachers across the country have been trained in public finance management by Crown Agents since January 2022.
The training is aimed at equipping the teachers with necessary skills to ensure that schools are ready to receive grants from Government, with the introduction of free education.
And Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu says the training of the teachers will help actualise government policy of free education.
Crown Agents is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
It works in partnership with its clients to design and implement practical solutions to their needs, and has been working with the Zambian Government to increase transparency and accountability in decision-making processes.
During the launch of offices for Crown Agents in Zambia, company chief executive officer Fergus Drake said the institution stands ready to continue supporting Government in implementing the best public financial management practices.
“Especially now that more public funds are being spent by the Government, dispersing increased resources towards areas such as the Constituency Development Funds [CDF]. Up until last September, we implemented a USAID-funded project which worked closely with the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Auditor General to strengthen internal controls, adherence to public procurement rules and the management and oversight of public resources in the ministries of health and education.
Mr Drake said in the late 1990s and 2000s, with funding from the UK government, Crown Agents supported Government to strengthen and run Zambia Revenue Authority and the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency [Medical Stores].
Earlier, Crown Agents country director Nalucha Ziba said the company’s partnership with Zambia has played a significant role in supporting programmes to advance major reforms.
Officiating at the event, Mr Nzovu said it is gratifying to see Crown Agents supporting Zambia in strengthening transparency and accountability.