Zambia

UNDP in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning handed over ICT equipment to the University of Zambia (UNZA). ICT equipment is part of UNDP and Ministry support to the Human Development Course for undergraduate students.

The Human Development Course was introduced by the University of Zambia in October 2007. UNDP has been providing both technical and institutional support for the course. The support has included refurbishing the UNZA computer lab, providing IT equipment and installing a local area network.

The objective of the Human Development Course is to introduce the human development paradigm to undergraduate students of the University of Zambia. The course teaches students the theoretical foundations of human development and enhances their awareness on how the human development paradigm relates to the Millennium Development Goals, policy issues and national development strategies.

The Course has quickly become popular amongst students. Since inception, enrolment to this course has increased from 20 students in 2007 to over 100 in 2009. Speaking at the ceremony, UNDP Zambia Country Director Ms. Viola Morgan stated that for Zambia to reach the MDGs and its national development programmes, human development parameters and related issues needed to be mainstreamed not only in programmes implemented by the Government, private sector, civil society and donor community but also in curricula for centers of excellence such as universities.