An image of an innovator at the AccLab NII Awards 2022 exhibiting her products, a bag of ground Bambara Nuts

CHANGING THE WORLD

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

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An image of Nanswau standing next to her goat shelter

Cultivating hope: How Zambian smallholder farmers are benefitting from climate-resilient farming

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Presentation screen with a graph depicting the gbv stats in Southern Africa at the UN Spotlight Initiative Round Table

Zambia Joins Clarion Call to End Gender-Based Violence in Southern Africa

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Emelda in front of her stall in Dambwa Market

Empowering Cross Border Traders: The Story of Emelda and Richard

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3 UNVs in Zambia celebrating International Volunteer Day 2022

Open Positions in the UN for Zambian Youth

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Latest news

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article
Call for Project Concept Papers — Great Green Wall Initiative on Sustainable Land Management and Sustainable Forest Management Innovation Programme

Under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Small Grants Programme (SGP): Operational Phase 7

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Overhead map depiction of proposed site location for Luanshya Medical Stores
DISCLOSURE: Call to Submit Comments on Prepared Plans for the Construction of Medical Warehouses

Disclosure of the Environmental (ESMP) and Social Management Plan and Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP)

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Student at Jacaranda Combined School crossing the newly painted zebra crossing at the Launch of Safe Schools Infrastructural Improvements in Lusaka
article
Improving Road Safety By Reducing Speeding Around Schools In Lusaka

The announcement marks a major milestone in Lusaka's commitment to reducing child road injuries and deaths

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An image of Mainga Kabika, the Permanent Secretary of the Gender Division receiving the review and recommendations
article
Zambia Prepares to Fortify the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011

Zambia Law Development Commission hands over a Review of the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Act to the Gender Division of the Office of the President and the Judiciary

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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

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Building Partnerships with Local Adventurers

The exhilarating and yet fulfilling journey of exploring for locally driven solutions to local development challenges has been an experience that has unveiled nearly 4,000 innovators from across the ten provinces of the country. Inspired by a desire to make societal impact with their initiatives, 130 innovators have been supported to develop innovations that respond to unique challenges of the country while working towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP Resident Representative, Lionel Laurens, confirms that the National Innovation Initiative (NII) journey spearheaded by the National Technology Business Centre (NTBC) under the Ministry of Technology and Science with UNDP’s financial and technical support over the past three years “has shown the tremendous potential of innovation in Zambia’s development. With the catalytic resources being invested amounting to almost USD1m, it is now time to have all key actors of the economy, in particular the private sector, increase their technical and financial support to the initiative to scale up the tested interventions including the creation of market linkages for the successful innovations”.

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An image of Honourable Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati (centre) flanked by other dignitaries, on his immediate left is the UNDP Assistant Resident Representative, Gregory Saili during the tour of Innovation Stands at the 2022 Innovation Award Ceremony, held at Government Complex.

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