This agreement is a strategic component of the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) “Climate Action for Inclusive Green Recovery and Growth in Zambia”. Team Europe represents a unified approach by the European Union (EU) and its Member States to support climate action and green partnerships, aiming for sustainable recovery, growth and decent jobs in Zambia.

With a joint funding of EUR 7.0 million, contributed by the European Union (EUR 6.0 million) and the Czech Republic (EUR 1 million), the SLIM project will run from 2023 to 2027. It is aligned with the EU’s “Green Partnership and Investment Programme along the Agriculture, Forestry, Biodiversity, Water, and Climate Nexus”, enhancing ecosystem resilience and advancing livelihoods through integrated management across critical sectors.

EU Ambassador Stasiak said: “The focus on community-based management of natural resources and the emphasis on benefit-sharing mechanisms, particularly for women and youth, hold increasing significance. Our combined efforts, echoing successful integrated landscape management approaches globally, aim to fortify Zambia's path towards sustainable growth and a green recovery. Together, our aim is to enhance ecosystem resilience and improve livelihoods, placing a crucial focus on the Planet, the People, Prosperity, and fostering strong Partnerships.”

Ambassador Procházka said: “We are looking up to partner with the European Union to continue reinforcing our commitment to sustainable development in Zambia. Our focus is on integrated landscape management, which is vital for ecological resilience and community prosperity. This initiative, aligning with Zambia's 8th National Development Plan and Vision 2030, represents a strategic collaboration under the EU-Zambia Forest Partnership. It underscores our dedication to sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate action. The Czech Republic, through the Czech Development Agency, is committed to fostering economic, scientific, and environmental cooperation, contributing to Zambia’s green growth and sustainable future.”,

The project concentrates on integrated landscape management strategies within the agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, water and climate nexus. It directly supports the implementation of Zambia’s 8^th National Development Plan (8NDP) and achieving its Vision 2030.

The project further aligns with the EU-Zambia Forest Partnership, focusing on sustainable forest management and reduction of deforestation to boost jobs, support biodiversity conservation and climate goals. SLIM supports more concretely Zambia's revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement for Climate Change, emphasising sustainable forest management, fire management and monitoring of land use and land cover changes. Additionally, it contributes to Zambia's obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in line with the country's biodiversity strategy and action plan through 2025, promoting sustainable ecosystem management.

The Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and the Ministry of Science and Technology, including the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC), are key partners in this initiative. The SLIM project will be implemented in close collaboration with the recently launch National Land Audit project for enhancing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

Managed by the Czech Development Agency (CzDA), the project aims to promote inclusive green growth in Zambia. The agency's role underscores the Czech Republic's commitment to economic, political, research, and development cooperation in Zambia.