From 18th to 21st March 2025, part of the AGNES, Leon Mulama and Grace Kaimburi led by the team Lead Dr. George Wamukoya OGW, visited the Zambia National assembly in Lusaka, to engage parliamentarians and parliamentarian staff on the Climate Monitoring and Accountability Tool (CMAT). This visit is the third after Nigeria and Ivory Coast, marking another critical milestone in the AGNES continental work of advancing legislative oversight on climate action through innovative digital solutions.
Introducing CMAT to Zambia’s National Assembly
The visit began with a courtesy call on the First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, accompanied by key members of the Zambian Parliamentary Caucus on Environment and Climate Change (ZPCECC) and the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources. The AGNES team presented an overview of CMAT, its policy-tracking capabilities, and the significance of digital tools in supporting legislative oversight of climate action. A brief demo of the tool was also showcased, setting the tone for the rest of the visit.
Following the opening session, AGNES was taken on a guided tour of the Parliament precincts, providing insight into Zambia’s institutional context. This was followed by an initial technical meeting with NAZ’s ICT team to discuss the feasibility of integrating CMAT into the existing parliamentary systems. The day concluded with deeper engagement with the ICT Department to assess infrastructure readiness and identify possible entry points for CMAT deployment. The team also got an invite to the Chambers through the Speaker’s gallery during the sitting to observe the proceedings of the day.
Technical feasibility for CMAT integration
The second day featured a technical session with NAZ’s ICT and research departments. AGNES gave a detailed presentation of CMAT’s functionalities — including climate finance tracking, performance monitoring, and data visualization. Constructive feedback was shared by the NAZ teams, and next steps for customization were discussed.
One of the major highlights was a strategic meeting with the Office of the Clerk and heads of various departments, including Research, Committee, ICT, Parliamentary Budget Office, Parliamentary Reforms, and M&E. This session concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AGNES and NAZ, formalizing their collaboration on the CMAT rollout.
The afternoon included a stakeholder meeting with Mr. Ephraim Shitima, Director of Green Economy and Climate Change, followed by a high-level session with the Executive Committee of ZPCECC and the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources. Parliamentarians validated CMAT’s relevance in enhancing legislative oversight, particularly in tracking climate finance and implementation progress. They emphasized the need for capacity-building sessions to support tool adoption.
Zambian Parliamentary Committees Validate CMAT’s role in supporting oversight functions
In a focused session with the Executive of ZPCECC and Members of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources, AGNES demonstrated CMAT’s capabilities in tracking climate finance, monitoring implementation progress, and supporting evidence-based decision-making. Parliamentarians affirmed the tool’s value in strengthening their oversight mandate and requested additional training to facilitate uptake. The session concluded with broad support for CMAT’s domestication and application in Zambia’s parliamentary processes.
Conclusion
This first visit was instrumental in laying the groundwork for CMAT’s localization in Zambia. AGNES reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Zambia in the full domestication of the tool and continues to collaborate with African legislatures in developing tailored CMAT versions. By embedding climate accountability into parliamentary systems, Africa takes a bold step toward resilient, data-driven governance.