Speeches Shim
![U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires a.i. David Young, symbolically hands over 2 million learning materials and 5,000 tablets to Minister of General Education U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires a.i. David Young, symbolically hands over 2 million learning materials and 5,000 tablets to Minister of General Education](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/cda_and_minister.jpg?itok=1gtuXNZN)
On December 15, the U.S. government handed over 5,000 tablet computers and more than 2 million textbooks, readers, teachers’ guides, and other teaching and learning materials, to the Ministry of General Education (MoGE). These tablets and materials will benefit approximately 20,000 teachers and 1.4 million learners in Early Childhood Education (ECE) through Grade 3 in five target provinces across the country. By 2024, the USAID Let’s Read Project will provide more than 5 million books and other learning materials in the seven official languages stipulated by the MoGE to over 4,600 public and community schools.
![Through the USAID-FTF Mawa project, over 113,000 rural residents in Zambia’s Eastern Province have improved access to safe drinking water and other basic water and sanitation services. A rural resident in Zambia's Eastern provinces accesses piped water for the first time.](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/Water_tank_eastern_province_rev.jpg?itok=xDE00pko)
On July 17, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) completed its Feed the Future (FTF) Mawa project, which integrated nutrition and economic strengthening in communities throughout Eastern Province.
![USAID Let’s Read developed radio-based “Tips for Teachers” and “Folktales for Students” as part of the U.S. and Zambian governments’ partnership to ensure continued literacy instructional and professional support for teachers and learners during COVID-19. Image for Noricah Nshimbami, a translator for the USAID Let’s Read project, part of the team that recorded audio-based lesson to ensure continued literacy instructional and professional support for teachers and learners during COVID-19.](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/Lets_Read_Tips_for_Teacher_Recording_image_three.jpg?itok=1mf74ODK)
In support of the Ministry of General Education’s (MoGE) response to COVID-19, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Let’s Read project has developed audio-based “Tips for Teachers” and “Folktales for Students” to ensure continued literacy instructional and professional support for teachers and learners during the pandemic.
![With support of USAID, Lusaka Business Council staff deliver the first tranche of donated goods for storage in space provided by local business Napoli Properties as Zambia’s private sector joins in support of the fight against COVID-19. With support of USAID, Lusaka Business Council staff deliver the first tranche of donated goods for storage in space provided by local business Napoli Properties as Zambia’s private sector joins in support of the fight against COVID-19.](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/private_sector_covid_response.jpg?itok=kKYdRXj5)
On April 8, 2020, just 21 days after Zambia’s Ministry of Health confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19, Medical Stores Limited (MSL) received an unexpected donation of mealie meal in support of the COVID-19 response. This was the first of many donations to come, as Zambia’s business community stepped in to do its part in the fight against COVID-19.
![USAID DISCOVER Health’s Kelly Chanika (left) demonstrates proper handwashing techniques with Chief Kanyama (center) and Senior Chief Sailunga (right) in Mwinilunga district, North Western Province, during one of the COVID-19 sensitization training sessions with traditional leaders. USAID DISCOVER Health’s Kelly Chanika (left) demonstrates proper handwashing techniques with Chief Kanyama (center) and Senior Chief Sailunga (right) in Mwinilunga district, North Western Province, during one of the COVID-19 sensitization training sessions with traditional leaders.](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/traditional_leaders_COVID19_training.png?itok=z__HHjBe)
LUSAKA – On May 7, 2020, the Chairman of Zambia’s House of Chiefs, His Royal Highness Chief Kaputa, officially announced that Zambia’s Chiefdoms have committed to “working with the [Zambian] government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.” Through the U.S. Embassy’s Zambian Partners Against COVID-19 (ZPAC-19) initiative and with support from the USAID DISCOVER-Health and Stop Gender-Based-Violence projects, this launch marked the beginning of a partnership to equip traditional leaders with information and guidance that their communities will receive on preventing the spread of COVID-19.
![A DREAMS Kozo seamstress in Lusaka sews a reusable face mask as part of their new initiative to provide affordable, quality masks to their communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A DREAMS Kozo seamstress in Lusaka sews a reusable face mask as part of their new initiative to provide affordable, quality masks to their communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/individual_sewing_small.png?itok=a-aOOVQM)
LUSAKA – In five provinces across 40 sites, 240 young Zambian women are using their sewing skills to make face masks in response to COVID-19. These young women are members of the U.S. government’s Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) Kozo Initiative. Originally trained to sew reusable menstrual hygiene products, the Kozo girls began sewing cloth face masks within weeks of the government’s mandate to wear masks in public spaces in response to the growing demand from their communities.
LUSAKA – The United States joins the Zambian government and the global community in commemorating World Malaria Day 2020. The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lead the U.S. government’s malaria response initiatives in Zambia.
![In partnership with the USAID Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry held a beta launch of the Z-TIP on February 19. Group photo of attendees to the Zambia Trade Information Portal Launch on February 19, 2020](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/ZTIP_Group_Photo.jpeg?itok=wYPN7Rfw)
A key condition of Zambia’s World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO-TFA), the portal fulfills the government’s requirement to host up-to-date trade-related information—such as permits, forms, border procedures, current fees and charges, and exchange rates—for traders seeking to import to, or export from, Zambia. The portal aims to expedite compliance of traders with regulatory requirements, while lowering their transaction costs, thereby improving their competitiveness. It will also assist the Zambian government to remain compliant with a key WTO membership obligation.
![Students reading in class at Kasupe Primary School in Chipata during the official launch of the USAID Let's Read Program. Students reading in class at Kasupe Primary School in Chipata during the official launch of the USAID Let's Read Program.](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/Lets_Read_USAID_brnd_2.jpg?itok=BHRuvU5n)
On November 12, 2019, the United States and Zambian governments officially launched the USAID Let’s Read project during a ceremony at Kasupe Primary School in Chipata. The U.S. government’s flagship education project in Zambia, Let’s Read is a five-year partnership with the Ministry of General Education (MoGE) designed to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million pre-primary to Grade 3 children from 4,250 public and community schools in five provinces.
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