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CHANGING THE WORLD

Working with the people of Zambia to build a resilient and diversified economy

Featured Articles

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Smiling woman in a purple dress holding a pineapple outdoors with greenery in the background.

Trees: The Ancients of Life

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Smiling African woman in teal patterned dress and head wrap among sheep near thatched huts.

Passing Hope Forward: How a Simple Goat Scheme is Building Climate Resilience in Zambia

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A woman in a bright dress sits on a bench outside a clinic, cradling a child wrapped in white.

Breaking the Limits of Care

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Sunny courtyard with yellow walls, columned walkways, and a person walking; distant figure.

What the Architecture of Inclusion Looks Like

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Latest news

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News
Lusaka's water is about to get smarter

UNDP and LWSC switch on AI to track down lost water, powered by sovereign compute built in Zambia.

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Smiling woman with orange hair flashing a peace sign at a youth event, among diverse attendees.
Press Release
Youth Connekt Zambia Summit 2026 Champions Youth-Led Innovation, Green Growth and Job Creation

The 2026 Youth Connekt Zambia Summit opened today at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre under the theme "Green Hustle: Cultivating Wealth, Creating Jobs"

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Portrait of a woman in orange traditional dress beside a health awareness banner.
Blog
Getting Ahead of the Curve

A case for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases as a development priority for Zambia

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Group photo of diverse people standing on steps outside a modern glass-front building.
Press Release
Zambia Launches Africa Mini-Grids Programme to Power Rural Communities and Build a Lasting Energy Market

REA-led, GEF-funded initiative backed by USD 13.45 million in national co-financing.

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What we do

UNDP works with the Government and people of Zambia to achieve the vision 2030 , the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of Government's development plans. Our work in the country, is guided corporately by the UNDP Strategic Plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework and our Country Programme Document (CPD). We are structured around four distinct and yet interlinked programmatic areas; environment and energy, governance and gender, inclusive growth and SDGs; and health systems strengthening for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Stories

stories

Road to the Market

For farmers in Mayukwayukwa Resettlement Scheme, growing a crop was never the hardest part. Getting it to a buyer was. Hilda’s rice is heavy to move and sells for what its destination will pay. Oliver used to lose part of his harvest to the Luampa River each flood season. Now a new road and footbridge have shortened the distance. Road to the Market follows three people using that road in different ways: one selling further, one crossing safely, one building beside it.

stories
Smiling woman in yellow top and skirt at a rural market stall; man in gray shirt beside her.

Zambia at a Glance

19.6

million

There are approximately 19.6 million people in Zambia

0.540

GII (2022)

Zambia's Gender Inequality Index (2022) is 0.540 — positioning the country as 138 out of 190 countries and territories

0.565

HDI (2021)

Zambia’s HDI value for 2021 is 0.565 — which put the country in the medium human development category—positioning it at 154 out of 191 countries and territories.

63.9

years

Life expectancy at birth

36.7

Percent

population between 15 - 35 years old

2,615

(2017 PPP $)

estimated Gross National Income Per Capita in 2021

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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The Sustainable Development Goals
Learn about SDGs