By Joseph Mapalo Kamanga
A World Bank implementation support mission has wrapped up a five-day visit to Zambia’s Eastern Province to check on the progress of the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme – Emissions Reduction Project (EP-JSLP). The team focused on checking actions from their last visit in October 2025, verifying the first Emissions Reductions Monitoring Report, and assessing tasks for the 2026 workplan. During the visit, the delegation met with government officials, traditional chiefs, cooperatives, and local communities to look at progress in areas like Climate-Smart Agriculture, Sustainable Forest Management, and livestock development.
During a courtesy call in Chipata, Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Paul Thole shared that local communities are excited and waiting for the verification process to finish so they can start receiving benefits from their first batch of carbon credits. He also restated the government’s strong commitment to helping communities benefit from conservation and sustainable land use.
World Bank Senior Agricultural Specialist Silvia Mauri explained that the visit was meant to build on previous plans and strengthen teamwork with local partners. She noted that the mission allowed them to meet with the newly formed Jumbe Community Emissions Reduction Coordination Committee in Mambwe District to see how local governance and emissions reduction work are improving. Additionally, World Bank Senior Climate Change Specialist Joseph Dickman said it was encouraging to see local farmers adopting climate-smart farming methods and growing more food with the project’s help.
As part of their review, the team visited Machinje National Forest and the Titandizeni Multipurpose Cooperative, an organization that previously received support and now makes sunflower cooking oil to boost local family incomes. The visiting delegation included experts in agriculture, climate change, and social development, alongside local programme coordinators and ministry officials. The EP-JSLP is run by the Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment with World Bank backing, all working together to improve forest conservation, build climate resilience, and help communities reduce emissions across the province.
©️Zambia Reports, 16th May 2026