Inaugural Fiscal Decentralisation Training Programme Concludes at Chalimbana Institute
Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute, Zambia – 27th June 2026
A Milestone in Zambia’s Decentralisation Journey
With the support of the GIZ (Good Financial Governance Programme), Cabinet Office, through Decentralization secretariat, has imparked upon a project to localize the training of public service functionaries in “Fiscal Decentralization”. Prior to this initiative, most capacity-building efforts in Fiscal Decentralization have relied on international training programmes offered by institutions such as the Hague Academy in the Netherlands or the Duke Center for International Development in the United States of America.
Due to the unsustainable nature of the foreign training, as well as the need for a localized Fiscal Decentralization course tailored to the Zambian context, Cabinet Office, through the Decentralization Secretariat, has initiated the localization of Fiscal Decentralization Training through a collaboration between Chalimbana Local Governance Training Institute (CLGTI) and The Hague Academy for Local Governance (THA).
The inaugural training for the localized Fiscal Decentralization Course was held at Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute from 22nd to 26th June 2026 targeting local government functionaries from diverse professional backgrounds. The training was delivered by a team of local Master Trainers certified by The Hague Academy for Local Governance (THA).
Programme Overview
The training covered critical themes in fiscal decentralisation, including expenditure and revenue assignment, intergovernmental fiscal transfers, debt and borrowing frameworks, own-source revenue strategies, accountability mechanisms, ethics and anti-corruption, and change management. Participants also took part in practical case studies and a field visit that connected classroom learning with real-world local government operations.
Delivered by a multi-disciplanary team of local Master Trainers, drawn from both the public and private sector, and certified by The Hague Academy for Local Governance (THA), the programme employed interactive methodologies designed to equip participants with practical skills for improving public financial management at the local level.
Keynote address during closing ceremony of the Inaugural Training Leadership
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the inaugural training, the Permanent Secretary for the Management Development Division at Cabinet Office, Mr. Alfred S. Sakwiya, highlighted the importance of the training, noting that it comes at a pivotal moment in Zambia’s decentralisation journey as the country accelerates the transfer of functions from central to local government. .Mr. Sakwiya pointed to the country’s ongoing implementation of the 2023–2027 Intergovernmental Fiscal Architecture (IFA), which serves as the strategic blueprint for operationalising the fiscal decentralisation as envisioned under the National Decentralisation Policy.
Mr. Terence Smith, speaking on behalf of GIZ’s Good Financial Governance Programme, expressed delight that the inaugural training had finally taken off as it marked the beginning of a localized initiative for the delivery of a comprehensive training on fiscal decentralisation in Zambia. He reaffirmed GIZ’s commitment to continued support towards the strengthening of local governance through targeted capacity building and technical support.
Vote of Thanks
Moving a vote of thanks on behalf of the inaugural cohort, Mr. Tembo Sekani, Council Secretary for Lusangazi, expressed deep gratitude to the development partners whose support made the programme possible. He acknowledged the support of the German Development Cooperation and the European Union in Zambia through the GIZ Good Financial Governance Programme for their financial and technical contributions to strengthening local governance in Zambia.
Mr. Sekani also paid tribute to the Decentralization Secretariat for spearheading the localization of the Fiscal Decentralization course in Zambia. On behalf of his fellow participants, he made an assurance that the capacity building investment in Fiscal Decentralization would yield dividends in the form of transparent, accountable, and efficient management of public resources at the local level.
Looking Forward
Participants were awarded certificates of completion, marking their successful participation in the Professional Development Course in Fiscal Decentralisation and Local Public Financial Management. The training, therefore, laid a foundation for continued capacity building in local government financial management, thus supporting Zambia’s broader decentralisation agenda.
It is envisaged that, Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute, with continued technical support from The Hague Academy for Local Governance, anchor the localized Fiscal Decentralization Course and ensure its sustainability by embedding it into its existing academic framework as Professional Development Programme (PDP)_
The Hague Academy for Local Governance is an international training institute based in the Netherlands, dedicated to strengthening local governance worldwide.
GIZ’s Good Financial Governance Programme supports the German Government and European Union’s commitment to promoting transparent and accountable public financial management in partner countries.