December 2018 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket: Analysis of the Effects of Emerging Economic Trends in on Access to Children's Rights
Abstract
Government’s capacity to facilitate protection and fulfillment of children rights is usually
hampered by disruptions in economic growth. This paper has analyzed the effects or likely effects
of the current economic trends that have treated sustained economic growth and development in
regard to access to children rights. Specifically, the paper has analyzed Zambia’s growing budget
deficit, public debt – both internal and external debt as well as the accompanying corrective
policies with the aim of reversing the current economic trend. The paper notes that Zambia’s
economic growth rate has decelerated in the last three years from annual growth rates of around
6% experienced five years ago to around 3% in 2017. This drag in economic growth has been
among other things been influenced by deteriorating fiscal and debt situation which have increased
to an estimate of 7.4% of GDP in 2018 and US$ 15.95 billion. This trend has a potential to divert
government resources from key social sectors that protects and fulfills children rights such as
education, health and social protection as governments prioritizes loan repayments over allocations
to such sectors.
Description
Through a partnership with Save the Children International (SCI), the JCTR is undertaking a
project to implement various interventions to promote public investment in children. The project,
entitled ‘Public Investment in Children’, has its overall objective of promoting increased
Government resource allocation to education, health, water and sanitation and child protection
interventions/ services. The JCTR understands that education, health and water and sanitation are
basic essentials for any child to thrive and the same can be said about social protection which
facilitates realization of the above services for the most vulnerable members of our society.
Realization of improved access to these invaluable social services however is often hampered by
disruptions in economic growth trends which this paper attempts to analyse and offer suggestions
on addressing them in order to guarantee smooth budgetary spending for the realization of children
rights. The Zambian economy has been growing at a rate of over 6% per annum of GDP until
recently when the growth decelerated to around 3% per annum. While children continue to face
harsh reality amidst sound economic growth, the situation could become worse with the recent
disruption in economic fundamentals in the economy. This paper therefore attempts to understand
these realities vis-a-vis realization of children rights.