Project of Urban Self Help (PUSH), Lusaka, Zambia

Zambia has the highest urbanisation level in Africa -- 50 per cent --, and faces high unemployment and poverty. The Government of Zambia noted the problem, and asked the World Food Programme (WFP) to assist to implement a food-for-work project. The National NGO PUSH and the international NGO CARE implemented the urban food for work project in various regions in Zambia. However, due to their limited experience in labour-based works and the management of a large work force, ILO was requested to provide training on labour-based construction of drains and roads, to adapt the designs of rural roads and drains to the urban environment of Lusaka and to provide guidance on task oriented remuneration of workers.

In 1996 and 1997 ILO assisted WFP in reviewing the pilot project and designing an urban food for work programme. This new urban food for work programme puts more emphasis on community management of the constructed infrastructure and community - municipal partnerships and aims at:

1. Increasing the food availability in poor urban households through the provision of temporary work for 50,000 women (90%) and men from urban poor households for 6 months.

2. Improving community infrastructure and sanitary conditions in low income urban settlements in 14 districts and establishing sustainable maintenance arrangements with the community and municipal authorities

3. Providing skills training related to the upgrading activities and assisting communities in capacity building.

ILO and WFP jointly drafted a guide on how best to implement food for work activities and how to ensure that proper labour policies and standards are followed within food for work programmes. This guide is now being used in various countries in East and Southern Africa.