Zambia and the European Union have signed an agreement to collaborate on the implementation of €110 million in EU grant funding for Zambia's National Development Plan and Free Education Initiative.

The agreement was unveiled at the Global Gateway High-Level Event on Education in Brussels on Thursday, signed by European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen and Honourable Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima. 

The funds will serve to improve the quality of both primary and secondary education, decrease the dropout rate among girls, enhance accessibility for learners with disabilities, and promote early childhood education and development in the Luapula and North-Western Provinces. 

Commissioner Urpilainen said of the agreement: "The European Union's Global Gateway investments in education are focused on enhancing access to quality education and skills training for all in an equitable way. Education and skills are key to combating inequalities and to creating jobs and prosperity, in particular in the context of the just green and digital transitions."

In addition, the European Commissioner penned 15 Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme projects funded by the EU, with €27 million under the flagship Youth Mobility for Africa.

The projects aim to offer learning mobility opportunities for students, trainees, and staff throughout the continent, with a focus on enhancing high-level green and digital skills.

Additionally, the Copperbelt University in Zambia will take part in the project 'Gr2A – Grow Green Africa: Building Climate Change Resilience Through Smart Green Technologies.'

The €1.8 million project is set to be funded by the EU.

The Gr2A project aims to tackle the issues posed by climate change and advocate for sustainable development by facilitating knowledge exchange and the development of green computing skills. 

It anticipates that this effort will lead to a growth in both human and technological capacity in green computing and climate change mitigation, as well as the creation of additional employment opportunities in green sectors. 

Ultimately, it aims to bolster the region's global competitiveness.

Furthermore, Zambia will also benefit from the regional Team Europe Initiative on Opportunity-driven Skills and Vocational Education and Training in Africa, which will guide vocational training initiatives at the country level towards specific employment prospects generated by investments made through the Global Gateway program.