Profile: Belinda Lumbala (Zambia) - 2007 Irish Aid Fellow

Belinda Lumbala pictured beside Dublin's River Liffey during her 2007-08 fellowship for an MA in Development Studies

A former ‘hands-on’ development worker, she is now an official in the Zambian Department of Finance, where she works in partnership with international donors, including Irish Aid, to improve the provision of key services such as health and education. Her work there is guided by the National Development Plan, which was drawn up by the Zambian government in consultation with international donors.

Belinda describes how her studies in Ireland can benefit her work in national development in Zambia.

"Coming to Ireland to study really expanded my horizons. You get to see things from an international perspective and learn from the development experiences of other countries. I have studied issues like food security, international relations, development theory and economies in transition. All of this has given me an increased understanding of the international scene, which I knew little about beforehand."

"A big thing for me was learning of Ireland’s path to development. I have spoken to older Irish people who have watched their country develop from a relatively poor economy into a very prosperous nation. When I hear this it gives me hope for my own country."

"People in developing countries often think that we cannot become prosperous. So it has inspired me to learn of Ireland’s recent economic progress. Sometimes, at work, you hit a wall and don’t know how to overcome a problem. When you study different approaches you learn how to overcome these problems."

"Working alongside donors really helps. It’s easier to make progress when everyone is working to the same goals and speaking the same language. It helps when the donors understand and have bought into the national agenda, such as Zambia’s National Development Plan. There’s a much greater sense of direction nowthan in the past. If you’re working closely together on the same plan you know where the money is going and if the targets are being achieved. Accountability has really improved because everyone is responsible to everyone else."

"We now have to produce only one report for all the donors instead of separate reports for each individual donor. This means you can spend much more time looking at the issues and the impact that your work is having on the ground. You can do your job from your desk but when you go out and speak to poor people you get a feel for what’s really happening."

"I come from a development background and the interests of women and children are what motivate me. This Masters degree will mean that, as a woman, I will be listened to by men at government and community level in representing the interests of poor women and children."

Belinda's story was featured in the 2007 Irish Aid Annual Report