The Citizen Economic empowerment commission has a big role in promoting economic growth. It’s a corporate statuary under the Ministry of Small and medium enterprise development. The Zambian government has established Citizen Economic empowerment with a mandate to implement various economic programs that will bring many economic changes to the country.
Established in 2006 under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act, CEEC is a mandatory government agency to promote economic empowerment among Zambian citizens, especially women, youth and persons with disabilities The main objective of the Commission is to reduce poverty, . inequality and unemployment by promoting entrepreneurship, for access to finance and markets Through various programs and projects, CEEC aims to create an inclusive and just economic environment of citizens all will have the opportunity to thrive and prosper.
What is the aim of CEEC?
The Citizens Economic Empowerment Council (CEEC) has a clear objective: to promote financial empowerment for all citizens, especially those who are marginalised or have barriers to full financial participation. These barriers can come from a variety of factors, including age, gender, religion, education, socioeconomic status, and disability. Recognizing the importance of inclusive development, CEEC is committed to addressing these gaps by ensuring equal opportunities for all Zambians.
To achieve its mission of economic empowerment, CEEC implements policies and activities that support the Nine Pillars of Empowerment and focuses on key areas such as access to finance, skills development, access to markets and money as it’s going to be so.
A key pillar of the CEEC empowerment program is to encourage participation, management and governance of vulnerable entities through initiatives such as the Community Economic Empowerment Fund (CEEF) or the Savings Bank , which will enable individuals to manage their finances through the process of fate.
Overall, the mission of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission is to promote inclusive economic growth for the benefit of all sectors of society. By empowering the people through finance, skills development, market access and equality, the commission aims to ensure a prosperous and equitable future for all Zambians. Through its policies and activities, CEEC demonstrates its commitment to building an inclusive and sustainable economy in which every citizen has the opportunity to prosper and succeed.
What does “social infrastructure” mean?
The Commission believes that social infrastructure and physical infrastructure should be taken into account equally when evaluating investments. This is an important part of the integration of culture and business.
High quality physical infrastructure such as railways, roads, local transport, new developments and public roads are important for achieving development. Create a business connection and connect the business to the business to get the most out of the production of the product. But when a place or community does not benefit, for example when skills are too low to benefit from work or health and social problems become barriers to participation, physical development is diminished in value.
Therefore, it is equally important to invest in “social infrastructure” to improve the capacity and ability of individuals, families and communities to participate in social and economic growth.
We have evidence that the following are particularly important aspects of social investment:
Support in the early years, including evidence-based child development and pre-school programmes. They also have impacts on children, young people and families.
Promoting education, skills and employment participation for adults through lifelong learning and appropriate investment.
Early intervention and prevention guidance is more than a surprise; public services, including “health” for public health and well-being, clean minds, and comprehensive plans for dealing with difficult needs and bad jobs.
Community development and capacity building, including investment in local parent organisations such as voluntary organisations, youth services, church groups, business and housing associations.
How the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission is promoting economic growth
Facilitates access to capital:
Facilitates access to capital:One of the primary roles of CEEC is to promote inclusive economic growth for marginalised or less privileged people by facilitating access to capital. The organisation provides loans or runs financial programs to support entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses, and individuals with financial difficulties.
Capacity Building and Training:
CEEC supports equal economic development opportunities through capacity building programs. They equip individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. The Commission helps them participate in the economy, create opportunities and contribute to economic development.
Employee Support Services:
The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission is also known for its employment support services. CEEC also conducts many business support services to empower businesses such as consulting, business planning, marketing strategies, access to networks etc. These services empower citizens especially marginalised communities by dealing with challenging business conditions, role and enhancement of their career prospects.
Policy Advocacy and Coordination:
Another positive role that CEEC plays is the empowerment of the citizens’ advocacy and coordination for inclusive economic growth. They work closely with the government, policymakers, lawmakers, and stakeholders to create new opportunities, provide equal opportunity, and create a thriving business environment. The commission also put efforts between different government agencies, organisations, and private sector entities, civil organisations to ensure a comprehensive and collective approach to empowerment.
Monitoring and evaluation:
CEEC also measures and evaluates the effectiveness of its programs. It assesses the Impact of its programs on every level to spread economic empowerment, job creation and bring economic value. This evaluation helps CEEC make better decisions and improvements in many areas resulting in sustainable economic growth.
Another key feature of CEEC’s work is its focus on promoting inclusive procurement and supply chain practices. Through its supply chain development programme, the Commission encourages large corporations and government agencies to source products and services from local SMEs, with women, youth and people with disabilities having the opportunity to market these products sizes and supply agreements, has also diversified CEEC’s investment opportunities Helps reduce dependence on a few dominant players and moreover, through local sourcing and manufacturing by encouraging, the Commission contributes to import substitution, export promotion and overall resilience of the economy.
In addition, the CEEC plays an important role in advocating for structural reforms and policy reforms that support inclusive economic growth. By engaging with policymakers, stakeholders and the public, the Commission raises awareness and also on the importance of financial empowerment as well as the importance of addressing systemic barriers to inclusion provides evidence-based research and policy recommendations to inform decision-making processes and improvement plans. Through its advocacy efforts, CEEC contributes to the creation of an environment for inclusive growth, where policies, laws and institutions work to support marginalised groups and encourage their active participation in the economy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Citizen Economic Empowerment Council plays a vital role in promoting citizen empowerment and sustainable economic development in Zambia. By addressing barriers to financial participation, providing financial assistance, supporting skills development, monitoring progress and promoting inclusive advocacy policies, the Commission supports inclusive and equitable development Through multilaterally, CEEC helps marginalised groups unlock employment potential, reduce poverty and inequality , and contribute to the prosperity of the country as a whole. By continuing to prioritise economic empowerment and inclusive growth, the Commission can further strengthen Zambia’s economy and provide a more prosperous future for all citizens.
