unicef education projects in zambia

Education in Zambia

• Transforming education

Result story

• Civil society
• KIX support
• Blogs and news

Partner since: 2008

Total grant support: US$132,289,193

Grant eligibility:

• System capacity
• System transformation

Education sector plan

Objective: Increase access, efficiency, and equity to quality early learning, primary, secondary, TVET and university education; increase the number of qualified teachers; increase access to science, technology, and innovation; increase adult literacy levels; expand educational infrastructure; review the curriculum.

Other key documents

Coordinating agency: UNICEF, UNICEF Zambia

GPE Team lead: Plamen Danchev

Transforming education in Zambia

The government of Zambia is committed to allocating more resources to the education sector in order to expand access to primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Education in Zambia is seen as a major factor in fighting poverty and hunger.

The goal of the education sector is to increase equitable access to quality education and skills training to enhance human capacity for sustainable national development.

The  National Implementation Framework III’s (NIF III) primary goal is to enhance human capacity by improving quality education and skills training, with particular attention to raising learning achievement levels and mitigating inequities and inefficiencies.

Despite increases in student enrollment and completion rates at the basic school level, quality remains low. This reflects challenges in teaching quality and supply, teaching and learning materials, and school governance.

The ministry of education has set nine objectives in the NIF III period:

• Secure better ECE services through new guidelines and standards to ensure that all children aged 3-6 years have equitable access to ECE.
• Introduce free and compulsory education for all learners Grades 1-7.
• Develop comprehensive and integrated curriculum for primary grades.
• Reintroduce free and compulsory education for all learners for Grades 8-12.
• Strengthen gender equity and parity within the secondary school education system.
• Reorient curriculum to emphasize life skills, labor market, and self-employment needs.
• Provide quality and development-oriented teacher education programs ensuring that graduates are properly equipped with subject-knowledge and pedagogical skills.
• Expand teacher education capacity through the public sector and provide incentives for private sector participation.
• Reduce teacher absenteeism to increase student-teacher contact time.
• Prioritize teaching science and technological subjects at all education levels.
• Promote research, innovation, and collaboration between industry and research institutions.
• Increase equitable access to university education and improve the relevance of programs offered at institutions.
• Increase university involvement in research and development.
• Improve and expand facilities for teaching science and technical subjects including creating technical schools, colleges, and universities.
• Promote collaboration between industry and TEVET institutions.
• Expand educational facilities and vocational training
• Raise awareness of adult literacy programs to increase access to youth and adult literacy education services.
• Promote community participation at primary, secondary, and tertiary level institutions in the development of infrastructure.
• Provide safe learning environment for all learners through reintroducing boarding facilities.
• Review the curriculum at all levels to make it relevant and responsive to national aspirations and education needs.

In order to implement NIF III, the government has set a number of strategic priorities. These include nurturing strong partnerships with educational service providers, systemic restructuring and management capacity enhancement, and providing formal and alternative modes of education delivery.

Zambia: Making the return to learning safe and inclusive

Read how GPE, with its partner UNICEF, is helping Zambia weather the educational crisis created by the pandemic and build resilience among children, parents and teachers to face future challenges with confidence.

(data as of April 23, 2024)

Type: System capacity

Years: 2023 - 2024

Allocation: US$199,800

Utilization: 0

Grant agent: WB

Type: Program implementation and Multiplier

Years: 2021 - 2025

Allocation: US$39,836,000

Utilization: US$11,652,201

• Improve equitable access and quality learning conditions in early childhood education in targeted areas
• Develop and implement early childhood education quality standards
• Enhance delivery of quality early learning and care
• Strengthen system management, monitoring and evaluation, and communitions
• Program document
• Progress report. April 2023

Type: Sector plan development

Years: 2020 - 2024

Allocation: US$700,000

Utilization: US$602,066

Civil society engagement

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting:

• The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) for the 2020-2023 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).
• The Tax Education Alliance (TaxEd) led by ActionAid International for the 2021-2023 period.
• Girls Education Advocacy in the Region (GEAR) led by Students And Youth Working on reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) for the 2021-2024 period.
• The Transnational Networks Advocacy Capacity strengthened for improved ECDE legislation, policies and measures in Southern Africa (TRANAC) led by Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development (ZINECDA) for the 2021-2023 period.

Knowledge and innovation

• Zambia is part of the KIX Africa 19 hub .
• Data Must Speak about Positive Deviance Approaches to Learning
• Observatory on COVID-19 Responses in Educational Systems in Africa
• Scaling a Youth-led Social Support and Mentorship Program to Improve Quality of Education for Marginalized Girls in Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
• Scaling the School Readiness Initiative - Strengthening School and Community Capacities for Adoption of Play-based Learning in Uganda and Zambia
• Strengthening school based in-service teacher mentorship and support
• Teaching at the Right Level – Learning how to improve teacher support through mentoring and monitoring

Latest blogs and news

May 18, 2023 GPE: A dedicated partnership to improve foundational learning Foundational learning provides the essential building blocks for all other learning, knowledge and higher-order skills. This is why GPE’s dedicated support to improving foundational learning is longstanding,...

April 21, 2023 How feminist clubs are changing gender norms across Africa Feminist clubs are having a positive impact in schools and beyond, empowering young learners to demand the learning spaces they desire to feel safe and learn better.

April 06, 2023 5 ways Data Must Speak is co-creating education research Data Must Speak’s team co-creates its research with stakeholders and partners, working together on research design, data collection and analysis, and evidence uptake. But how is this done in practice?...

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Education Sector

Education transforms lives and is at the heart of UNESCO’s mission to build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development.

UNESCO believes that education is a human right for all throughout life and that access must be matched by quality. The Organization is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education. It has been entrusted to lead the Global Education 2030 Agenda through  Sustainable Development Goal 4 . The roadmap to achieve this is the  Education 2030 Framework for Action  (FFA).

UNESCO provides global and regional leadership in education, strengthens education systems worldwide and responds to contemporary global challenges through education with gender equality an underlying principle.

Its work encompasses educational development from pre-school to higher education and beyond. Themes include global citizenship and sustainable development, human rights and gender equality, health and HIV and AIDS, as well as technical and vocational skills development.

In order to achieve these objectives, the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO assists the cluster countries to implement various programmes on which you can find more information here

Bridge Project

‘UNESCO Bridge Africa’ is a project run by Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) with the goal of cultivating strong ties between Republic of Korea and developing countries.  Under the slogan, ‘Spreading Hope through Education,’ KNCU plans to provide literacy education to 120 000 people by establishing 200 community learning centres in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2025. 

Main objectives of the programme is to provide literacy education to vulnerable illiterates, initiate local-driven activities to eradicate extreme poverty and foster sustainable development, and promoting economic, social and cultural development in marginalised areas. 

In Zambia the Bridge Project exists since 3 rd November, 2016, and through the work of the Korean Project Manager it was possible to carry out some important projects.

Vocational Training and Community Empowerment – The Nega-Nega Community Learning Centre Case

In the middle of 2015, Zambian and Korean National Commission for UNESCO initiated one Community Learning Centre construction under the Bridge Africa Programme in Nega-nega Village, Mazabuka District of Zambia to reduce the gap of input and outcomes stemming from inequality of distribution and ineffectiveness of procedures.

With aims of vocational training and community empowerment, the joint project funded by Korean Ministry of Education, proceeded with three more co-partners, Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), UNESCO BEAR (Better Education for Africa’s Rise) project, local NGO People’s Action Forum (PAF), to make maximum synergy on vocational training system and its high quality of education.

In many rural areas in Zambia it is difficult for people to access good quality training. Problems are that there are no tuition fee.

Based on this situation, Zambian and Korean National Commission for UNESCO decided to build up 1×2 community learning centre for literacy and life skill programmes within boundaries that protect local people’s ownership and provide construction training opportunities at the same time. In the line of the programme, in brief, there are three main keys to enable trainees to receive formal certificate by TEVETA as follows;

• To hire Nega-nega local people who have construction skills without certificate.
• To provide theoretical lesson for trainees on plastering and bricklaying.
• To evaluate all trainees’ daily activities by the construction leader.

In the end of construction, 19 trainees were awarded formal trade certificate by TEVETA. SinceAs of 2016, January, Nega-nega Community Learning centre had prepared to provide literacy and life skill programmes for local people in the new building built up by themselves. We would like to believe that the participatory project between central, district government and local community promote community empowerment of people’s competencies and their sustainable future as UNESCO mentioned.

Natural Sciences Sector

UNESCO works to advance and promote science in the interests of peace, sustainable development and human security and well-being, in close collaboration with its Member States and a wide variety of partners. It is the only United Nations specialized agency, symbolized by the ‘S’ in the acronym, with a specific mandate for science.

Since its foundation in 1945 UNESCO has acted as a catalyst for the establishment of many, now leading, scientific unions and bodies such as CERN; and initiatives with far-reaching implications for sustainable human security and well-being, such as the Man and the Biosphere Programme, the International Hydrological Programme, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, were launched in UNESCO’s first decades.

UNESCO hosts major international programmes in the freshwater, marine, ecological, earth and basic sciences. Science policy at the national and sectoral levels is a key part of UNESCO’s work in science. Cross-cutting themes include natural disaster reduction, biodiversity, engineering, science education, climate change and sustainable development.

In order to achieve these objectives, the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO assists the cluster countries to implement the following programmes on which you can find more information here .

SC Zambia Projects

Designation of kafue flats biosphere reserve.

In 2020, UNESCO designated the Kafue Flats as the Biosphere Reserve in Zambia . Covering more than 2,600,000 ha, Kafue Flats Biosphere Reserve cuts across various districts of archaeological and historical significance, as well as a Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area. It hosts over 400 species of birds and several mammals, such as zebra, buffalo, hippo and the endemic Kafue lechwe. It is inhabited mostly by Ila/Balundwe, transhumant pastoralists who also practice fishing and agriculture. The area has the largest population of livestock in the country with herds of up to 4,000 cattle grazing in its floodplains during the dry season. In the wet season, most communities retreat from the Kafue Flats to permanent villages on the edge and outside the biosphere reserve. This traditional ‘kuwila’ method of livestock production is practiced on customary land as the floods recede from July to November.

UNESCO and Safe Clean Water

UNESCO supports improved management and governance of water resources with region-specific educational activities and capacity-building. The aim of UNESCO’s water programmes is to tackle discrimination and unequal access to water resources and to decision-making processes. In 2015 UNESCO supported a project in Zambia to strengthen freshwater security systems in two Provinces of Zambia. The main aim of the Project is to improve health through provision of sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Activities under this Project focused on sensitizing rural communities on the importance and use of safe water. As is usually the case in all sectors, the UNESCO through the National Commission implements projects in collaboration with relevant established institutions for continuity and visibility purposes. As such, this project was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Ministry of Energy and Water Development and the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health.

This Project targeted water stressed communities in Southern and Eastern Provinces, identified with the guidance of the Department of Water Affairs which operates in the Ministry of Energy and Water Development. Limitation of project funds necessitated a cost saving measure of complementing efforts of Projects already on the ground and consideration of implementing the Project in rural areas where there was more need as opposed to focusing on urban water provision.

The Project was carried out in two Districts in Eastern Province i.e Chipata rural and Petauke rural Districts and two Districts in Southern Province namely Sinazongwe and Gwembe Districts. The places were chosen because the Department of Water Affairs and the Ministry of Local Government and Housing had Projects of sinking boreholes in the two areas. There were also other Private institutions operating in the mentioned areas. The UNESCO supported Projects of sensitizing rural communities on the importance of fresh water thus supplemented efforts that were currently on the ground in the Districts.

The Project on safe water which focused on raising awareness and sensitising community members involved working with local partners at District Level for follow up activities to succeed. Prior to Project implementation, the Project team identified local organisations on the ground. It was observed the three partner organisations: the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health all had a presence in the rural areas and as such District representatives were involved in the Project planning and implementation. Whereas the Planning Committee in Lusaka were in charge of the overall planning of the Project, the District Officers were responsible for getting in touch with the local authorities to inform them of the sensitisation programme as well as mobilising local communities to be part of the programme. Community media and the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) facilities in the villages were utilised to inform the people.

It was discovered that the Districts were unique in terms of the environment or the way villages were set up in the areas. This in turn saw a difference in project planning and implementation. Notwithstanding the variations, project activities were standardised in the four places. The activities included the following:

• Identifying the water and sanitation issues aimed at enhancing safe drinking water and sanitation in the area
• Identifying a suitable place to share information and ideas
• Mobilising of community members using available modes of communication
• Communicating with the communities through the traditional leaders
• Identifying and designing messages to be used to sensitise communities
• Utilisation of local partners to sensitise the communities on the importance of fresh water
• Provision of information materials to sensitise on safe water and sanitation

In order to be more effective in the sharing of information with the communities, the information was first shared with the local representatives who were expected to sensitise the communities at larger gatherings. The gatherings comprised local and village authorities, key local partners and the identified communities. Different awareness raising strategies such as drama performances, dances and plenary sessions were used. These cartered for the children, youth and adults. The messages were grouped in three themes namely “importance of safe water and sanitation”; effects of inadequate safe water and sanitation”; and “ownership and responsibility of water incomes” and were printed in local languages i.e Chichewa and Tonga for Southern and Eastern Provinces respectively.

The Project was a success as there was a cry for more sensitisations from the local chiefs and authorities in the areas visited. At the end of the Project it was realised that there is need for more sensitisations on the importance of safe clean water as most partners dealing in Water Projects usually focus more on putting up water points and not on sensitising the communities on their role in the maintenance of the water points and the importance of the safe water.

Social and Human Sciences Sector

UNESCO’s role in the field of Social and Human sciences is to promote knowledge, development of standards and intellectual cooperation in order to facilitate social transformation based on the values of justice, freedom and human dignity. To this end, a number of tasks that should help reduce the gap between what is and what should be are carried out under this sector:

• Promotion of Inclusive Social Development Policies that manage contemporary social transformation by (i) fostering the production of in-depth and innovative research and facilitating policy uptake (ii) Reinforce national and regional capacities to enhance national policies regarding social inclusion, gender equality, youth and sport policy, and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable (iii) promoting dialogues and sharing of good practices in building inclusive societies
• Promoting Rights and a Culture of Peace in two main ways. First, through the mobilisation of knowledge on the rights of the vulnerable groups, the nature of exclusion, the underlying causes of conflict and violence from values-oriented lenses. Second through the promotion of the use of intercultural dialogue as a tool for inclusion and peace building at the community and national level.
• Support and Empowerment of Young People based on the UNESCO’s Operational Strategy on Youth 2014-21 including (i) capacity building for youth networks and organisations to mobilise youth in responding to development challenges and (ii) creating civic spaces for civic engagement, democratic participation and social innovation.
• Combating gender inequality and violence against woman.

In order to achieve these objectives, the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO assists the Government and relevant stakeholders as a think tank with the aim of associating all those concerned by the actions of UNESCO in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes that “ enable people to create and use knowledge for just and inclusive societies ”.

SHS Zambia Projects

Quality physical education policy.

Zambia benefited from the UNESCO funded QPE Policy Project that was implemented between 2016 and 2018 using the QPE resource package, to practically support the country to revise the national physical education (PE) policies to be inclusive and child-centered. A National Stakeholders Workshop was held targeting national media engagement in the project, as well as a broad cross-section of other stakeholder groups. This resulted in an inclusive QPE Policy Implementation framework in Zambia. Participating in the Quality Physical Education Policy Project gave Zambia a strategic opportunity to strengthen and systematize cooperation between national sport, education and health ministries. This was the first time these inter-connections between sport, education and health policies have featured explicitly in a national policy document.

Anti-Doping in Sport

In 2022, Zambia through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Art has received funds amounting to US$35,000 from the UNESCO Fund for Elimination of Doping in Sport to carry out an anti-doping project in the country . Through the project, capacity will be built in 27 National Sports Federations in the implementation of anti-doping National Rules which the country adopted and approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2021. Key personnel from strategic line Ministries and institutions who are expected to help in drafting an anti-doping piece of legislation towards forming an independent National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) were oriented for the purpose.

Culture Sector

In today’s interconnected world, the power that culture has to transform societies is clear. Its diverse manifestations – from our cherished historic monuments and museums to traditional practices and contemporary art forms enrich our everyday lives in countless ways. Heritage constitutes a source of identity and cohesion for communities disrupted by bewildering change and economic instability. Creativity contributes to building open, inclusive and pluralistic societies

UNESCO is convinced that no development can be sustainable without a strong component on culture. To ensure that culture takes its rightful place in development strategies and processes, UNESCO has adopted a three-pronged approach: it spearheads worldwide advocacy for culture and development, while engaging with the international community to set clear policies and legal frameworks and working on the ground to support governments and local stakeholders to safeguard heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism.

UNESCO renowned cultural conventions provide a unique global platform for international cooperation and establish a holistic cultural governance system based on human rights and shared values. These international treaties endeavour to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

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World Vision Grants and Projects

World vision in zambia is a valued and trusted partner of the government, foundations, multi-laterals, corporations, and other organisations striving to eradicate the root causes of poverty. our strategic collaborations are designed to achieve shared humanitarian and development priorities., through working with children, families, communities, and partners, world vision in zambia will contribute to the sustained well-being of 1,500,000 children, especially the most vulnerable, from 2021 - 2025..

Active Grants and Private and Non-Sponsorhsip

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Locally Fundraised

Projects highlight.

Prevent! Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Project

The Prevent! Sexual and Gender-Based Violence is a project under the Natwampane Programme. The Natwampane Programme is a Government-led four-and-a-half-year programme funded by the European Union and implemented in Luapula and Northern Provinces by BBC Media Action, Lifeline Childline, GIZ, Norwegian Church Aid and World Vision.

The overall objective of the Natwampane Programme is to reduce Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Zambia, particularly in the Northern and Luapula provinces, to be achieved through two specific objectives: SO1) To prevent SGBV by challenging and changing beliefs, attitudes and practices; and SO2) To increase SGBV survivors’ access and use of comprehensive support services. Although the focus is on Luapula and Northern provinces, the Natwampane programme also has a national focus, supporting the division of Gender in policy and system building and strengthening coordination at both provincial and national levels.

World Vision Zambia leads implementation in Northern Province. It is a subgrantee to Norwegian Church Aid in Luapula Province ( “From Trauma To Resilience (FTTR) ” project), responsible for the response component of the project.

Malaria-Free Zambia

The Programs of Scale (PoS), a 3-year project with USD 2 million in funding each from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and World Vision United States, aims at supporting the scaling up of Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM+) in 10 districts in Central and Muchinga Province, respectively of the Republic of Zambia.

The PoS Project’s primary outcomes are:

• Reduced cases of malaria, especially severe malaria and deaths, in PoS districts by 2024
• iCCM+ PoS sustained under Zambian Government management and financing

Survive to Thrive (S2T) Project

Survive to Thrive project's goal is t o promote the survival of children under five years (CU5) in 15 districts of Zambi a.  To reduce morbidity and mortality for WCBA and CU5 in targeted Communities/Districts (through the provision of access to integrated primary health care)

Project Outcome 1: Households (HH) adopt Positive Health, Nutrition and WASH  Behaviours

Project Outcome 2:  Improved Access and Utilization of quality essential health care services for mothers, new-borns and U5s in Target communities .

Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education Project

World Vision in Zambia (WVZ) and Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA), and the Ministry of Education, will implement the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education (EVE) Project in Namwala District in Southern Province. The project aims to increase the retention of 7,000 at-risk children (including 6,000 high-risk and 1,000 most at-risk learners) in quality primary education in Zambia by 2025.

This will be achieved through three outcomes:

• Outcome 1 - Increased parent and community support for the retention of high-risk and most at-risk boys and girls in school
• Outcome 2 - Enhanced capacity of teachers and SISCs to support high-risk and most at-risk learners:
• Outcome 3 - Improved support services and a safe and healthy school environment and learning for high-risk and most at-risk girls and boys.

UPLIFT Education Project

The overall goal of the European Union in Zambia funded project 'Urban and Rural Programme for Learners’ Inclusion, Foundation, and Transformation through Education (UPLIFT - Education)' is to contribute to the empowerment of children and youths in Zambia through increased access to inclusive and quality education by 2023.

The project, co-implemented by World Vision Zambia and FAWEZA, builds on the government’s education programme, guided by the relevant national policies and strategies on education and international conventions on children’s rights, which will contribute to the achievement of SDG 4, “Quality Education”, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities. The UPLIFT project is fully aligned with and complementary to the National Education Policy of 1996.

Sustainable Land Regeneration project

Wo rld Vision’s Zambia Sustainable Land Regeneration project aims to restore 75,000 hectares of degraded communal and individual farmland using Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) by 2027, benefiting 5,100 people in rural farming households and associated industries, and contributing to Zambia’s own commitment to multilateral environment agreements including UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

Rural Zambians depend on forests for their livelihood, overall at 20% of all household income nationally. However, charcoal and fuel wood production, as well as the clearance of forested land for agriculture, settlement expansion and mining, has resulted in an annual deforestation rate of approximately 276,000 hectares every year (FAO), increasing greenhouse gas emissions and impacting community development, especially for subsistence farmers who are most vulnerable to climate variations.

Scaling Up Nutrition Project

The SUN II programme is a 4-year initiative supporting MCDP II led by UNICEF in partnership with the National Food and Nutrition Commission, line ministries, other UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The programme is generously supported by the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany through KFW Development Bank, the Swedish international development cooperation agency (Sida) and UK aid from the British people. SUN II provides a package of interventions in communities that adopt multiple approaches to delivering services to households in 17 districts of Zambia.

Photo Gallery

Natwanpane project monitoring by EU and UNHCR Delegates

European Union (EU) Delegation to Zambia and COMESA Head of Cooperation Arnaud Borchard;  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Country Representative, Perrine Aylara; World Vision's Southern Africa Regional Leader, Mark Kelly, and World Vision's Zambia National Director, John Hasse, participated in a joint mission in the Northern and Luapula provinces on 1st and 2nd February 2022.

The objective of the visit was to monitor progress in the quality of prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) in the visited communities, as well as the support provided at sexual and GBV (SGBV) one stop centres through the EU-funded Natwampane programme.

ECD Hubs (Insakas) funded by UNICEF Zambia

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Mohamed M. Malick Fall, (left) with World Vision in Zambia Integrated Programmes Director, Wezi Kaira (right) during the handed over of two Community-Based Integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) Hubs, locally called Insakas, in Chongwe District. The ECD hubs will promote an integrated approach to child nurturing and development in Kasubanya and Chibombe communities.

At the hubs, health workers, teachers, and community-based volunteers all work hand in hand with community members to ensure that young children’s well-being is at the centre of community development. Households with young children and pregnant women near the hubs are further supported through monthly home visits by the volunteers.

UPLIFT project participation in the EU Fair

World Vision Zambia, and FAWEZA through the European Union Zambia funded project ‘Urban and Rural Programme for Learners’ Inclusion, Foundation, and Transformation through Education Action ‘UPLIFT’ participated in the European Union Fair held at Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka in 2021.

All grants funded by the EU in Zambia to various organisations were exhibited during the event.

High-Level Nutrition meeting

The National Food and Nutrition Commission organised a High-Level Nutrition meeting attended by: government, cooperating partners, NGOs, media and UN agencies. This meeting acted as a means to demonstrate renewed commitment towards eliminating all forms of malnutrition which include the implementation of Scaling Up Nutrition, first 1,000 Most Critical Days Programme.

World Vision Zambia was flagged by the National Director John Hasse, who collaborated with other organizational leaders on matters of nutrition.

How Grants Transform Lives

World Vision in Zambia and UNICEF Zambia hand over Early Childhood Development Hubs

World Vision in Zambia, in partnership with UNICEF Zambia, recently handed over two Community-Based Integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) Hubs...

UPLIFT Project empowers Traditional Leaders with 138 bicycles to fight child marriage

World Vision Zambia, through the European Union Zambia funded project ‘Urban and Rural Programme for Learners’ Inclusion, Foundation, and...

“World Vision’s THRIVE; transformed my life” says Peter Kasonde

Peter Kasonde, a father of nine (9) children, is a farmer from Kamuchanga village in World Vision Zambia’s Mwamba Area Programme in Kasama district of...

46,000 people receive clean water in Nyimba district through World Vision Zambia Water project

World Vision Zambia has handed over Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WASH infrastructures worth seven million kwacha to the Zambian Government through...

Toyota Zambia and World Vision Zambia handover a 1X2 classroom block to Hippo Pool Community

Toyota Zambia Limited, in partnership with World Vision Zambia Limited has handed over a 1x2 classroom block at Hippo Pool primary School in Chingola...

Newly constructed Maternity Annex and Mechanised Water System attracts expectant mothers at Bundabunda Health Care Facility

Nelia Banda, 27, is a dedicated mother and wife who takes great pleasure in caring for her husband and three daughters at their home in the Mwalwembe...

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Education Above All

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Madison General Insurance Company Limited Zambia

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Golf Fore Africa

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Immediate Action is Needed as Southern Africa Grapples with Worsening Drought

April 22, 2024 - Southern Africa is on the brink of a devastating hunger crisis as a relentless drought tightens its grip. El Niño has led to searing heat that led to massive crop failure causing water sources to dry up. As a result, millions of people in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia have been driven towards starvation. To highlight this crisis, CARE alongside the Human Science Research Council, FANRPAN, and Rural Women’s Assembly held a press conference on 22nd April 2024 to call for international donor support to combat the worsening crisis.

“The situation is dire and demands urgent and coordinated action to avert a catastrophe,” emphasized Matthew Pickard, CARE Southern Africa Regional Director . “We are particularly concerned by the impact of this emergency on women and girls who form the backbone of local communities. who have had their farms scorched by the intense sun. At the same time, the cholera outbreak affected Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe over countries leading to hundreds of deaths whilst recovering from four years of intense cyclones. We need to support affected communities already impacted by the drought to avert disaster.”

In Malawi, El Nino has affected close to 4.4 million people due to below-normal rain and scorching temperatures. This caused maize, a staple food for many, to be severely affected across the nation. Additionally, other crops such as rice, groundnuts, and soya beans have suffered substantial losses, threatening food security and livelihoods. Forecasts predict a significant drop in crop yields and increased vulnerability among homes that depend on agriculture for sustenance.

Over 2.7 million Zimbabweans are in need due to prolonged dry spells resulting in complete crop failure in many areas. Government indications show that 26% of people in rural areas will have a cereal shortage, further worsening a dire hunger crisis there. The situation is compounded by economic stress and livestock losses even as the country reels from a cholera outbreak that led to over 560 fatalities. Livestock diseases and water scarcity have worsened this situation.

In Zambia, the drought has impacted 9.8 million people. Delayed rains and wilting crops led to a national disaster declaration in February. Food prices surged 45%, worsening hunger. 84 districts in 8 provinces are affected, impacting 14.8 million. A March assessment found alarming food insecurity: 76% with limited food stocks, 5.7% with none, and 75.7% resorting to severe coping mechanisms. Crop damage is 50-90%, and water scarcity has forced 30% to seek alternative sources. At the same time over 740 people have succumbed to Cholera in what has been identified as the deadliest outbreak the country has experienced.

To address the escalating crisis, CARE is launching a comprehensive response plan focused on providing essential assistance to affected communities. This includes support in food and nutrition provision, revenue generation recovery by promoting sustainable farming practices, provision of clean water and sanitation services to mitigate health risks, education, and protection by ensuring access to education for vulnerable groups and raising awareness about gender-based violence and protection mechanisms.

“Our immediate priority is to save lives and alleviate suffering,” added Matthew. “But we also recognize the need for long-term solutions to build resilience and address the underlying causes of vulnerability. We call upon donors and governments to support the scale-up of humanitarian assistance. The clock is ticking. Let’s act together to save lives in Southern Africa.”

Quotes from Speakers :

This is not just a climate shock. It’s a humanitarian crisis that is demanding immediate action. This crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls. We know that in such situations they’ll eat the least and the last because this is what happens in the household. They would travel longer distances in search of water and food which to some extent exposes them to Sexual and Gender Based Violence. – Chikwe Mbweeda – CARE Zambia Country Director

What we all know is that the agriculture sector is under immense threat from the impact of climate change. This has one fundamental challenge, the continent is now a net importer of food. What is the cost of that? At the current rate at which we are importing food, we spend 35 billion US Dollars. That is the cost of importing food and that is projected to increase to over 110 billion by 2025. – Dr. Tshilidzi Madzivhandila, FANRPAN CEO

A very interesting phenomenon that we are experiencing in South Africa is the occurrence of drought in some parts of the country, while you are dealing with floods in other parts of the country. and some observers are saying, if we don’t know what climate change looks like, we can start there. But also what we are experiencing is the increasing frequency of these occurrences of extreme weather events. – Dr. Litha Magingxa, President & CEO of the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa

We are suffering as rural women as I am talking now. I’m crying. I’m crying for my beloved rural women. They have nothing. they have nothing to eat. they have nothing even to feed their families. – Alice Kachere, Rural Women Assembly Malawi

We need action now, today it can’t wait. We’re living in a crisis that is very clear from what our speakers have said, and each of us has a role to play in supporting vulnerable families in this time of greatest need. Matthew Pickard, CARE Southern Africa Regional Director

Note to Editors

Images of drought impact in Zimbabwe can be viewed here

Virtual Press Conference recording can be accessed here Passcode: #4e8f0jZ

• CARE has been operating in Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces since 1992, implementing programs focused on Gender Equality including Education; Right to food, water, and nutrition; Climate change and adaptation; Humanitarian action; Health; and Women’s economic empowerment.
• CARE’s lifesaving operations are ongoing in Masvingo through the Tayambuka (Prevailed over food insecurity challenge in a dignified way) project a comprehensive initiative funded by the USAID to address food insecurity and build resilience among vulnerable smallholder farmers in the Bikita District of Zimbabwe. The project targets 5,000 farmer households who are at risk of experiencing reduced crop yields and limited income opportunities due to the anticipated El Niño phenomenon.
• The project takes a multifaceted approach to tackle these challenges. It combines in-kind food assistance with the implementation of Food for Assets (FFA) programs. The FFA programs focus on strengthening community physical and natural assets to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerabilities to future shocks and stresses.
• CARE Malawi, established in 1998, transitioned from education and health projects to broader challenges, focusing on livelihood, food, and nutrition security across 17 districts in Malawi.
• The flagship program, Titukulane, funded by USAID, aims to achieve sustainable food and nutrition security for vulnerable households in Mangochi and Zomba Districts, emphasizing income stability, nutrition, and resilience building, particularly for women and youth.
• Titukulane’s strategy includes providing improved seeds, promoting climate-smart agriculture, investing in irrigation, supporting youth-led businesses, implementing Cash for Work initiatives, promoting Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and establishing local disaster preparedness plans. Additionally, CARE Malawi implements the Diversifying Resilience Approaches through Market Systems (DREAMS)-BHA project to address drought in Thyolo and Chiradzulu districts, focusing on river line and watershed management and promoting Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) knowledge and practices.
• CARE Zambia, operational since 1992, collaborates with various stakeholders to implement impactful projects addressing water, sanitation, climate change and humanitarian response, health, livelihoods, education, and gender equality.
• Current operations include the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Project, cholera response initiatives, and a humanitarian crisis recovery project in Southern Province supporting disaster recovery efforts of floods affected populations.
• Achievements include reducing cholera risk for 27,120 people and supporting 15,000 individuals with income-generating activities after floods.

For media inquiries, please contact: David Mutua, CARE East Central, & Southern Africa Regional Communications Advisor: via: [email protected]

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