Changing the world

Together, we are supporting the people of Zambia build a resilient and diversified economy

US Secretary of Treasury, Dr. Janet Yellen, greets a SCRALA project beneficiary at her homestead in Chongwe, Zambia

US Sec Yellen Visits Green Climate Fund Resilience Agriculture Site in Zambia: Reaffirms Support to enhance Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation

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Attendees at the Conference on Policies and Strategies for Increased Participation and Representations of Women in Elections and Politics in Zambia, including the Permanent Secretary for the Gender Division in the Office of the President, Senior Elections Advisor for the UNDP Zambia's Democracy Strengthening in Zambia project, and the Executive Director of the Zambia National Women's Lobby

Working Towards Increased Women's Political Participation in Zambia

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Are You Safe?: 16 Days of Activism Against GBV Unveils the Criticality of Ending Violence Against Women

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GEF-SGP Beneficiaries, Leonard Banda and Sabina Zulu standing in front of their farm

Community Transformation through Sustainable Agriculture and Fish Farming

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Latest news

Panner Phiri, a member of the Kalichero Community Action Group and beneficiary of the SGP Operation Phase 7 in Eastern Province, on a banana farm
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Call for Proposals - Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) Capacity Building and Monitoring Support

For the capacity building and monitoring support for GEF SGP funded projects in Lower, Middle & Upper Zambezi, Kafue and Luapula Province.

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Participants at the COMESA-UNDP Partnerships Dialogue
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COMESA-UNDP Dialogue deepens partnership for regional integration and socio-economic transformation

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.

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Zambian Women Police Officers at their practical exams for the Pre-SAAT training
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Zambia Police receives funding from the Elsie Initiative Fund to increase women’s participation in United Nations peace operations

The Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations (EIF) announced today that the Zambia Police Service (ZPS) will receive funding of USD 932,072 to create a more enabling institutional environment to increase uniformed women’s participation in United Nations (UN) peace operations.

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UNV National Volunteers Day UN Resident Coordinator, Beatrice Mutali, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services' Permanent Secretary - Angela Chomba Kawandamiand Minister - Hon. Doreen Sefuke Mwamba M.P., and UNDP Resident Representative, Lionel Laurens, holding Zambia's First National Volunteer Policy
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Solidarity Through Volunteering: Unveiling the National Volunteer Policy

Recognising the crucial role volunteers play across key sectors in Zambia, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, with support from UNV Zambia and UNDP Zambia, developed and launched Zambia's first National Volunteer Policy on the 2022 International Volunteers Day.

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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

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”.

stories
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