Review of Matantala Rural Integrated Enterprise and the Community Development with Traditional Leaders Programme

The Project

The main goal of the program is to contribute to poverty reduction and increased living standards in three local communities in the Southern Province of Zambia. The goal was to be reached through increased access to schools, health clinics and other public goods, income generating activities and behaviour change with respect to local ownership and the role of women. Traditional leaders were intended to have a leading function. Matantala, an organisation with close contact to the region and traditional leaders, was the implementer for the Norwegian embassy. Total budget for the project period 2006-2009 is approx. NOK 10 million.

Interesting Findings

After 2 ½ years of operation, the program has contributed to:

• rehabilitation and construction of several schools, houses for teachers, health clinics and disinfection tanks for cattle, mostly of good quality, implemented with the active participation of traditional leaders and the population and with significant contribution by Matantala, although sustainability in the longer term would be dependent on follow-up by local authorities,

• preparation of different types of income-generating activities, although with little chance of sustainable income for the participants, unless the concepts are being revised,

• positive behavioural change, although in communities where such activities have already been in operation for some years.

It was not yet possible to assess whether and if so, to what extent the traditional leaders acted as drivers of change.

The possibility of copying the concept in other parts of Zambia, is considered limited and dependent on the formal power attributed to traditional leaders by the state of Zambia and their opportunities towards local authorities.

Norad / Peace, Gender and Democracy Department