Decentralizing environmental policy implementation: The Case of the Zambian national policy on environment

Abstract

The NPE placing emphasis on facilitating environmental integration, decentralization, community participation and privatization and further developement, is close to the end of its intended implementation phase. This study aimed at determining the degree of implementability of the NPE, at the background of a restricted decentralization process. Results indicate that though some efforts have been made, the policy is to a large extent symbolic. Cooperation of the different organizations is a challange as well as the dependency of the local level on the central government. Heavy reliance on international funds, further poses a challange on sustainability of the policy measures.