The Government has commended Response Network for its impactful role in
transforming communities across four districts of Southern Province.
SouthernProvince Minister, Honourable Credo Nanjuwa,expressed the Government’s appreciation during Response Network’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, held on3rd October 2025 at the Zambia Air Force Banquet Hall in Livingstone.
Hon. Nanjuwasaid that over the past two decades, Response Network has demonstrated that true development is not imported but cultivated from within communities. He noted that instead of handouts, the organization has promoted hands-on participation; instead of imposing external solutions, it has facilitated community-driven initiatives; and instead of fostering dependency, it has advanced local resource utilisation and human rights awareness as key pillars of sustainable development.
He explainedthat the celebrations were meant to honor the over 160,000 individuals who have participated in and benefitedfrom Response Network’s self-help initiatives. These include:
Climate-smart agriculture practices that safeguard livelihoods against climate shocks
- Women’s savings and lending groups that strengthen financial inclusion and
household resilience - Vocational and life-skills training for women and youth, creating pathways out of
poverty - Girls’ education and sponsorship programs, ensuring opportunities for future
women leaders - Governance and human rights awareness programs that promote accountable and inclusive
local systems - Community school construction projects, opening access to education for thousands of
rural children - Hon. Nanjuwaemphasized that these initiatives are not isolated interventions but interconnected steps toward human dignity and self-reliance, representing bothindividual transformation and collective progress.
He furthernoted that despite the achievements being celebrated, Southern Provincecontinues to face significant socio-economic challenges. With an annualn population growth rate of 3.4 percentand a poverty headcount rate of 63.5percent, the province requires sustained and innovative developmentefforts.
He added thatagriculture, which employs over 73percent of households, remains both the backbone and vulnerability ofthe province due to climate change effects such as prolonged dry spells, erratic rainfall, and crop failures. However, he said these challenges also present opportunities for innovation and resilience-building.
The Ministerhighlighted the province’s youthful population as a valuable resource, stating that with the right skills, opportunities, and mindset, young people can drive transformation over the next twenty years and beyond. He described organizations like Response Network as indispensable in mobilizing communities, building resilience, and promoting innovation.
The 20th Anniversary celebrations, heldunder the theme “20 Years of Transformative Impact on Communities andIndividuals through Self-Help Facilitation,” were attended by governmentdepartmental heads, traditional leaders, stakeholders, and partners, all of whom gathered to celebrate Response Network’s contribution to community development.