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CHANGING THE WORLD

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

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A woman in the maize field

It is All Connected

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Meet Your Top 5 Winners — MineTech Accelerator Program 2025.” Photos and names: Arthur Abaliwano (Anchor Machines, Uganda), Chitula Lukonde (Zanfit Enterprise Ltd, Zambia), Taslim Olawale Salaudeen (Milsat Technologies, Nigeria), Tukupala Mussa Mwalyolo (Tukutech Company Ltd, Tanzania), Walter Mboninyinwami (SYNCHROS, DRC). Logos: timbuktoo, MineTech Hub, NISIR, UNDP.

Five Disruptive African MineTech Startups Awarded Critical Seed Funds to Further Advance Mining Innovation in Africa

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Photograph of a person in a blue shirt in a cornfield, holding corn husks and leaves.

All Hands on Deck: How Zambia’s Whole-of-Society Approach is Accelerating Climate Action

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People in a boat paddling through the river.

Where the Water Used to Be

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Latest news

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Press Release
Smart Zambia Institute, Ministry of Health and the UNDP Partner to Drive Digital Transformation Within Zambia’s Health Facilities

A new partnership advances Smart Health Systems in Zambia, bringing solar energy and digital connectivity to rural clinics. The project enhances supply chain visibility, cold chain reliability, and cybersecurity for resilient healthcare.

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Aerial view of a desert construction site with rows of foundations and hills in the distance.
News
Construction of Gender-Responsive Police Facility to Empower Women in Peacekeeping Gains Momentum

Partnerships Driving Progress Toward Gender-Responsive Infrastructure

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An image of James Wakiaga and other stakeholder posing for a group photoeting
Press Release
Zambia’s 2026 National Budget: Balancing Economic Stability with Social Investment

Budget highlights indicate a balancing act between managing debt and safeguarding investments in health, education, and social protection, critical sectors for human development.

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Aerial view of a construction site with orange soil, concrete foundations, and heavy machinery.
News
Stock, Storage and Smart Health Systems

Is proper storage infrastructure is the missing link in healthcare in Zambia?

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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

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

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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