By JULIUS PHIRI – GOVERNMENT has reassured the international community of its commitment to the social development of the people through policy and structural transformation. Community Development and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary, Davy Chikamata said when he delivered a statement at the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD) at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York that the Zambian Government was cognisant of the centrality of humanity in sustainable development. Dr Chikama said Government had since repositioned its national development plans to make them all-inclusive and people-centred. “The Government has put in place policies that focus on creating jobs and reducing poverty and inequality in a sustainable way,” Dr Chikamata, who is leading the Zambian delegation to the annual meeting said. This is according to a statement issued yesterday by First Secretary at the Zambian Permanent Mission to UN, Chibaula Silwamba. He said it was envisioned that the goals would be achieved by facilitating investments in sectors that promoted employment, increase productivity and contributed to higher and inclusive growth. To effectively contribute to the eradication of hunger and extreme poverty in rural households, Dr Chikamata said Zambia had implemented multiple poverty interventions, including the social cash transfer scheme. He said the Government had continued to implement social assistance programmes targeted at orphans and vulnerable children, households affected by HIV and AIDS, older persons, persons with disabilities and female headed households. He said the empowerment of low income households had continued through the provision of agricultural inputs and training in conservation agriculture aimed at alleviating poverty among vulnerable but viable farmers.