Key amongst the reasons for Zambia’s Bronze Award was for facilitating the adoption of the first Gender Equality Workplace Policy by the Zambia Police Service, promoting gender equality in the Zambia  Police Service’s processes, procedures, policies and operations nationwide. Outside of the CO’s programming, the office has also ensured high levels of inclusion within the organisation by incorporating gender perspectives into the overall organisation structure. Some of these initiatives included the implementation of gender responsive policies such as Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse & Harassment (PSEA) with a responsive referral system rooted in victim centred approaches, gender responsive human resources management policies that places care on the needs of its employees into consideration through flexible work arrangements that allow staff to balance everyday work with their parental responsibilities, hence ensuring equality and equity in the organisation culture. Gender parity in the CO has also been ensured in the recruitment of staff through gender lensing the recruitment processes. 

The CO is acutely aware that while this milestone represents the cumulative efforts made by staff members towards advancing gender equality in-house and through its projects, there is still a long road ahead to achieving the gold standard. James Wakiaga, the Resident Representative of UNDP Zambia, shared:

“We are encouraged by this recognition and see it as a testament to our CO's commitment to Gender Equality. We see it as a launching pad given our resolute goal to achieve the gold standard. Through the process of gaining this Bronze Seal we have reflected on the gaps and the current status on how we are working on gender equality and development as a Country Office. It has also pointed us to how we can better our approach to attain the Gold standard of inclusivity in the office and in our interventions countrywide”