A birds eye view of the solar panels and the irrigation scheme

CHANGING THE WORLD

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

Featured Articles

Learn more about our work

A picture of the President of Zambia smiling in a green vest stands at a podium with microphones in a conference setting.

President of Zambia, Hichilema Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Empowerment at Fourth Youth Indaba

Read more
Smiling woman in a kitchen holding a yellow tray filled with white feathers

Turning Trash to Treasure in Zambia’s Western Province: The Ndowana Farming Club

Read more
Her Honour Vice President Mutale Nalumango with the UNDP Resident Representative, PS Mavis Nkomeshya, Takeuchi Kazuyuki, Ambassador of Japan to Zambia

UNDP and the Government of Japan Partner to Improve Infrastructure for Displaced Persons and their Host Communities in Zambia

Read more
a man standing mining a rock

Southern Africa Must Process Its Own Critical Minerals

Read more

Latest news

Two men in formal attire exchange a document, smiling, with a UNDP backdrop.
news
Zambia Police Service Launches First-Ever Communications Strategy to Enhance Transparency and Public Trust

The Zambia Police Service has taken a historic step towards strengthening public engagement, transparency and trust with the official launch of its first-ever Communications Strategy.

Read more
Four women in life jackets smile at the camera, with a river and blue sky in the background.
Stories
Breaking Barriers: Women in Uniform on the Frontlines of Peace Keeping Operations

In the heart of conflict zones, where the echoes of war often drown out hope, Zambian women police officers are rewriting the narrative.

Read more
an ai image of an African woman texting on a cell phone
blog
Digital Mobile Wallets (DMW) as a Catalyst for Financial Inclusion?

The use of DMW today has taken over the financial landscape, enhancing accessibility and convenience in the exchange of goods and services, as well as carrying out other financial transactions. Learn more

Read more
a group of people standing in front of a the UN House building
Procurement
Request for Quotation - Painting of UN House Office Buildings

UNDP Zambia is launching a painting project at the UN House in Lusaka, Zambia. This project aims to enhance the aesthetic appearance of several buildings within the UN House premises.

Learn more

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

Saving Against Climate Shocks

It’s a bright and sunny Monday morning in Manangwonzi. Polite Masaka, a passionate farmer and fiercely loving grandmother tends to her farm with her grandson, Bright perched on her hip. She’s up earlier than usual because she has an unmissable appointment at the community center. She’s heading to the biweekly meeting of the Manangwonzi Savings Group, a gathering she never misses. In just six months as a member, Polite has seen her life change in ways she never imagined. As the group’s secretary, Polite is known for her cheerful and enthusiastic spirit. She brings a sense of joy to each session. But do not let that fool you, she has a no-nonsense attitude during the meetings. If you so much as whisper, distracting someone else from the meeting proceedings, she’ll quickly kneel in front of you, notebook extended, ready to issue a strict Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) 2 fine for causing a distraction. “This one hour is serious business,” she says, flashing a warm smile. It definitely is serious business. The Manangwonzi Savings Group operates on a simple but powerful mechanism: members pool their money, lend it out with interest, and reinvest the earnings into joint and individual projects. A share costs just ZMW 20, but over time, the savings and interest grow substantially. Polite herself has saved ZMW 1,360 and received ZMW 12,900, including interest, during the last share-out.

stories
a woman in a green top holding chicks and baby guinea fowls in her hands

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

Take Action

Connect
What We Do and How We Do It
About Us
Learn more about working with UNDP in Zambia. Browse our job opportunities.
Join the Team
Jobs
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