Zambia has endorsed international commitments towards ensuring everyone’s right to Sexual and Reproductive Health, as well as adopted several legislative and administrative measures to implement such commitments. However, the lack of access to accurate SRHR information, and appropriate services particularly among young people not only limits their ability to shun risky sexual practices but also limits their developmental possibilities. Some of the Key SRHR challenges faced by young people in Zambia include early sex debut and the consequent rise in unwanted and teenage pregnancies, unstainable population growth, persistent spread of HIV & AIDS, persistent of rape, defilement, and other forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the prevalence of the different kinds of cancer that affects the reproductive system, Menstrual hygiene challenges, among others. These challenges partly thrive on some deeply entrenched life-threatening cultural and religious conceptions and practices around gender and sexuality that curb the potential impact of policies and other Public health interventions implemented to address the SRHR challenges in the country. Addressing these challenges is key for Zambia to achieve Aspirations one and six of the agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 4. As a social driver of change, churches have a significant role to play in ensuring that Zambia overcomes the SRHR challenges faced in the country and in implementing the AU aspirations and SDGs mentioned above. To support its member churches in Zambia to achieve this, AACC will train 22 youth leaders to live as Ecumenical Health Ambassadors who promote sexual and reproductive health and rights in the country through approaches that foster human dignity. 

This training aims to consolidate the work of the AACC Economic Justice Advocates by exposing them to key debates on public debt. The training session will target AACC member churches from different countries. It will increase the number of Economic Justice Advocates. The focus will be on ensuring that the Church has a full appreciation of the debt question (legitimate/illegitimate, odious debts); traditional call for debt audits, and the general debt management systems within the broader public finance (and resources) management framework in different countriesParticipation in other key processes organized by AACC partners. AACC will also participate in the commemoration of key moments such as World Environment Day on 5 June. The aim is to remain visible during strategic moments that have implications on AACC work. 

The meeting is meant to raise awareness of the challenges of public debt and corruption in Zambia; to build the Church leaders’ capacity to track and document data on public debt and corruption to strengthen their prophetic role on the issues as well as to identify country-level Ecumenical Economic Justice Advocates to anchor AACC public debt and corruption programming. The meeting will be held to strengthen the capacity of AACC member churches in Zambia to engage key stakeholders including governments on public debt and corruption. It will be a platform for raising awareness of other critical economic justice issues that have a direct and indirect bearing on public debt management and corruption in Africa. Interaction with some experts and public officials will enhance the capacity of the Church leaders on public debt and corruption. The meeting will build on the research findings on the public debt of Burundi, Zambia, and Ghana that will be discussed.

 The research in Tanzania will contribute to broader research we are doing in five African countries under the title “Understanding Key Drivers of Africa’s New Debt Crisis: A Call for Ecumenical Advocacy Action”. To date, we have covered Burundi, Ghana, and Zambia. Thus, Tanzania will be our fourth case study. In this research we want to have a clear picture of the current status of African debt; the role of COVID-19 in that debt; the role of private lenders including China; the social and economic impact and what the Church can do. 

 The Dialogue aims to create a platform for Africans in the Diaspora to discuss issues affecting the continent and to create an open forum for discussions on issues relating to migration in the continent.

The consultation will bring together Young people across the African Continent: CSOs, Political Leaders, Government, and AU organs to discuss matters relating to democratization, governance, and/or the promotion and protection of human rights in the African Continent. As part of the discussions, the young people will also engage on the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance by AU Member States. These discussions with examine the role of the Youth in strengthening democracy in Africa and its impact on the Africa: My Home. My Future. campaign and the African Union Agenda 2063.

 Violations of Human Rights and dignity are lived realities among many widows in Africa, where in some communities, cultural norms and beliefs expose widows to traumatizing and dehumanizing experiences. These include but are not limited to denial of inheritance and land rights; eviction from the late husband’s home; humiliating cultural rites, stigma, and poverty. On International Widows’ Day, 23rd June 2024, the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in collaboration with the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, will host an in-person gathering to commemorate the International Widows’ Day 2024 under the theme, “The Love of Christ compels us to accelerate the Achievement of Rights and Dignity of Widows in Zimbabwe.” The key objective for this year's Commemoration is to carry out a Training of Trainers (T0T) on Promoting the Rights of Widows in Zimbabwe. The Specific Objectives include: To increase awareness of International Widows’ Day in ZimbabweTo raise awareness about the state of widows in Zimbabwe and the available legal instruments to protect widows’ rights.To raise awareness of the AACC Advocacy tool kit for justice for widowsTo strengthen the capacity of widows, women, and men participants to advocate for the rights of widows.To showcase achievements made by widows of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe from the AACC grants for widows’ programs, as a best practice in the economic empowerment of widowsTo share experiences of widowhood through testimonies from widows

 Rapid population growth can have serious consequences for the well-being of humanity worldwide. It impacts on development both positively and negatively depending on the circumstances. As a Christian organisation, AACC is concerned that the population growth in the continent does not commensurate with the ability of African governments to provide basic social services. In countries where social services are provided, the governments are not able to sustain it. As a result, the quality of our social services, including education and health keeps falling, leading to the many issues facing people in the continent such as irregular migration and human trafficking, Gender Based Violence (GBV), upsurge in crimes, unemployment, underemployment, persistent poverty, urban slums, political unrest etc. The rapid, unsustainable population growth plays a major role in this.Unfortunately, we realize that the phenomenon of the nexus between population growth and sustainable development has not been taken seriously in both Agenda 2030 as well as Agenda 2063. There is little or no mention of population as a factor in development.We are also aware that churches in the continent do not have this issue on their agenda, and they are not talking about it. The high growth rate in Africa is as a result of many families not practicing family planning. The controversy among Christians about family planning comes from varied interpretations of a few passages in the Bible on human procreation e.g. “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…” (Genesis 1:28). Some Christians use this verse to prohibit family planning. However, the command to be fruitful comes along with the command to be stewards of God’s creation. Thus, as responsible stewards, human beings cannot give birth to the number of children they are unable to raise.AACC holds that Faith and Science are not in opposition but complementary, and that Science is a gift to Faith from God. Therefore, how can a conversation between dynamics of Population Growth, and theological perspectives of Genesis 1:28 enhance the achievement of sustainable population growth that would intern lead to a demographic divided in Africa? This will be the key area of focus between religious leaders and expert groups in the dialogue.This consultation will aim at:1.    Increasing understanding of Population dynamics and demographic dividends.2.    Enhancing sociological and theological knowledge on sustainable family for sustainable population and development.3.    Deepening understanding on the intersections of population growth, policy framework and quality of life in Africa.4.    Increase awareness on challenges of unsustainable population growth on Africa’s transformation and development.5.    Strengthen collaboration between faith actors, experts, and relevant institutions towards addressing the issues related to population growth and demographic dividends in Africa.