CoST, The Infrastructure Transparency Initiative is delighted to announce that Zambia, one of the first countries in the initial CoST pilot programme, has rejoined CoST as a member.  

Zambia has gone through significant changes recently to form a solid foundation for a successful re-joining of CoST . This includes institutional policy reforms which enhance contractor capacity and technical compliance in infrastructure and a new law to regulate public procurement. Zambia’s membership application recognised the importance of infrastructure in strengthening economies and improving lives and a commitment from government, private sector, and civil society to enhance infrastructure transparency, accountability, and participation. 

Zambia’s new commitments include:  

• Securing high level political support, with Hon. Eng. Charles Lubasi Milupi, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development, agreeing to be the country’s CoST Champion, and deliver a statement to Cabinet regarding Zambia’s CoST membership

• Publishing data using the CoST IDS and OC4IDS, starting with projects vital areas for enhancing people’s lives – the road, education, water and sanitation and health sectors. 

• Working with several institutional bodies across government, civil society and media, and construction to support transparency, accountability, and participation mechanisms in infrastructure.  

Prof. Paul Makasa from Zambia’s National Council for Construction said “We’re elated to re-join CoST’s membership. We previously learned a lot as members of CoST, and we’re excited to work with the International Secretariat, our new CoST Champion and for our plans around data publication. This will support Zambia to enhance the country’s infrastructure, and ultimately, people’s lives.”

Zambia joins several members in Africa: Kaduna State, Nigeria; Sekondi Takoradi (STMA), Ghana; Malawi; Mozambique; Ethiopia and Uganda.  

Zambia has rejoined CoST to receive support from the International Secretariat in applying CoST’s approach and tools, as well as benefit from learning from other members across Africa and beyond.  Our free tools and standards to promote infrastructure transparency are available for any local or national government to use. 

Read more about the work of our members across the continent, including our new Malawi impact story, our previous impact stories and the recent work of CoST Uganda, CoST STMA, and CoST Kaduna.