Zambia National Commission for Unesco

OPENING OF THE INCEPTION MEETING ON INTEGRATING LIVING HERITAGE IN BASIC EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA

The Inception Meeting and Contextualisation of Knowledge Products on Integrating Living Heritage in Basic Education opened today, 19 November, 2025, at Twangale Park Hotel in Lusaka, bringing together teachers from six schools across Lusaka, Central, and Copperbelt Provinces, as well as officers from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism, and the National ICH Committee. The official opening was graced by Mr Ominato Satoshi, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Ms Elena Constantinou, Head of Culture at UNESCO ROSA in Harare, and Ms Pravali Sangeti, Project Coordinator from UNESCO Headquarters in Paris under the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention, paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr Evans Muhanga.

This meeting marks a key step in launching the project in Zambia, funded by the Government of Japan through UNESCO and implemented by UNESCO ROSA in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO. It focuses on contextualising methodological and assessment frameworks and finalising Whole School Action Plans to strengthen the integration of living heritage in basic education.

Read more about the project: https://core.unesco.org/en/project/537RAF4005

The Zambia National Commission for UNESCO is pleased to see the continued impact of the O3 PLUS programme in strengthening research, policy dialogue and evidence-based action in higher education. We commend the collaboration between UNESCO, the Ministry of Education, and all stakeholders working to advance safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments for young people.
We look forward to the outcomes of this Research Symposium and to the next steps as the programme progresses towards its conclusion. 🌟📚

UNESCO recently has convened a Research Symposium at the University of Zambia bringing researchers, policymakers, students and education leaders together. The event is part of the 1st phase of the O3 PLUS program, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, that ends in December 2025.
Learn more: 👇
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-convenes-research-symposium-lusaka-zambia-strengthen-student-health-and-well-being-higher

🇿🇲✨ Congratulations to Zambia on Its Election to the UNESCO Executive Board! ✨🇿🇲

The Zambia National Commission for UNESCO congratulates the Government and the people of Zambia on the country’s election to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2026–2029 term. This marks yet another moment of pride, following Zambia’s previous terms of service in 1966–1971, 1971–1975, 1991–1995, 2007–2011, and 2017–2021.

The Executive Board is one of UNESCO’s key governing bodies, guiding the implementation of the Organisation’s programmes and shaping its global priorities. Zambia’s election reaffirms the nation’s sustained commitment to UNESCO’s mandate across education, culture, the sciences, and communication.

This milestone once again offers Zambia a platform to contribute meaningfully to UNESCO’s work and to highlight national and regional perspectives as we collectively advance peace, sustainable development, and cultural understanding.

The Zambia National Commission for UNESCO remains committed to supporting the country’s effective participation on the Executive Board and within UNESCO at large.

Together, let us continue positioning Zambia as an active voice in shaping a better future for all. 🌍✨

Training on Safeguarding Food-ways as Living Heritage Concludes in Lusaka ✨

Today marks the successful conclusion of the training workshop on “Safeguarding Food-ways as Living Heritage for Sustainable Development” held in Lusaka, Zambia. The workshop was organised by the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in partnership with the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Tourism under the UNESCO Food Atlas Project, generously funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Participants were drawn from local communities across eight provinces—Southern, Western, Luapula, Lusaka, Copperbelt, Eastern, Muchinga, and Northern.

The training strengthened the capacities of community members and State actors in identifying, documenting, and safeguarding food-ways as an integral part of Zambia’s intangible cultural heritage. This effort reinforces the importance of food-ways as living heritage and highlights their contribution to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Over the coming months, trained participants will develop inventories of diverse food elements from their respective communities. These will be added to the growing UNESCO Food Atlas, contributing to global knowledge on traditional food heritage.

🔗 More information on the Food Atlas Project: https://ich.unesco.org/en/projects/international-food-atlas-and-digital-platform-for-safeguarding-promoting-and-transmitting-foodways-to-future-generations-00505?fbclid=IwY2xjawOJsV9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFyUVZhUmNrMjlDMWVvdDhRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpUSu0frAx7XQqS9VO0Tsdm6raCYNwYXi8gk6u6tiC8aaCsJYG6Gq76m7HU-_aem_rVLQwuB2Mrs31d3WXkfXyA&brid=Jpv4odjf0IW-zCkMoww85Q

UNESCO 43rd General Conference - Samarkand (Uzbekistan) 30 October -13 November 2025

In the picture below, from left to right: Dr. Samson Kantini (SPO ZNCU, Dr. Ndakala, Director CDC, Ambassador Judith A. Mulenga - France, Dr. Kelvin Mambwe, PS - ES, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Moira Chilufya Ng'uni SPO ZNCU, and Mr. Davy Siamuzyulu, First Secretary Education - France