Friday, July 3, 2026 - Lusaka, Zambia

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) this week welcomed two valued development partners as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration in advancing social justice, sustainable development, and the protection of human dignity in Zambia.

On Wednesday, JCTR hosted a courtesy call from Southern Africa Trust. The Save the Children delegation was led by SOME Allain Kounsovin, Regional Programme Manager for Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. The engagements provided an opportunity for the organisations to share updates on their work, exchange perspectives on emerging development challenges, and explore areas of mutual interest for future collaboration.

Southern Africa Trust is a regional development organisation that works to strengthen the voice and influence of civil society across Southern Africa. Through support for citizen participation, social accountability, governance, economic justice, climate resilience, and regional policy engagement, the Trust seeks to promote inclusive development and ensure that the perspectives of communities inform decision-making processes.

Save the Children International is one of the world's leading organisations dedicated to improving the lives of children. Its work focuses on ensuring that every child survives, learns, and is protected. In Zambia, the organisation partners with government, communities, and civil society to advance children's rights through programmes in education, health and nutrition, child protection, humanitarian response, and child participation.

During both meetings, discussions centred on the evolving development landscape in Zambia and the importance of partnerships in responding to complex social, economic, and governance challenges. The exchanges also highlighted the critical role of evidence-based advocacy, community engagement, and collaborative action in promoting equitable and sustainable development.

As a faith-based organisation committed to promoting social and economic justice through research, policy engagement, civic participation, and advocacy, JCTR recognises that meaningful change is best achieved through strong partnerships. Engagements such as these create valuable opportunities for organisations to learn from one another, identify shared priorities, and strengthen collective efforts to improve the lives of the people they serve.

JCTR expresses its appreciation to Southern Africa Trust and Save the Children International for their visits and looks forward to continued collaboration in advancing inclusive development, accountability, and the common good.