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CHANGING THE WORLD

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

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Connecting Care

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Photograph of a man standing beside a large-format printer in a yellow-walled workshop.

Beyond the Roadshow

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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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Latest news

Sairaanhoitaja vastaanottamassa lääkinnällisiä välineitä
Press Release
UNDP and Smart Zambia Institute Launch Digital Solution to Transform Zambia’s Medical Supply Chain

UNDP, Smart Zambia Institute, the Ministry of Health and ZAMMSA have launched Phase I of eVIN, a digital system that will track vaccines and medical supplies in real time as the first step toward a nationwide rollout.

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Woman wearing a white hijab and blue scarf, speaking at a conference with banners behind.
Press Release
Zambia Launches First-Ever Green Finance Taxonomy, Marking a Historic Milestone for Sustainable Investment in Africa

The Government of the Republic of Zambia today unveiled the Zambia Green Finance Taxonomy (ZGFT), a landmark national framework that places the country among Africa’s frontrunners in sustainable finance.

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Photograph: Diverse group posing on a sunny grassy lawn with banners and trees nearby.
Press Release
Zambia Takes Major Step Toward Connected Healthcare With National ToT Workshop

The Smart Health Systems project hosts a Connectivity Training of Trainers Workshop that equips provincial teams with the skills necessary to deploy and manage high-speed internet, digital supply chain solutions, and climate-smart infrastructure in rural and peri-urban health facilities nationwide.

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Group photo of conference attendees posing in a hall with banners and screens
Press Release
Zambia Launches National Action Coalition to Strengthen Information Integrity Ahead of 2026 Elections

This new multi-stakeholder platform established at a national symposium in Lusaka to coordinate responses to mis/disinformation, strengthen digital resilience, and safeguard credible, inclusive elections ahead of 2026.

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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