Lusaka, Zambia, 5^th December 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Smart Zambia Institute (SZI), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), have officially launched the implementation of Phase I of the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) —a cutting-edge digital solution designed to enable end-to-end tracking of medical supplies across Zambia.

The inaugural meeting, chaired on behalf of the National Coordinator (SZI) by Mr. Mulomba Hameja of Smart Zambia Institute, brought together key representatives from MoH, ZAMMSA, SZI, and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA). The event marks a major step forward in Zambia’s digital transformation of its health system and its commitment to data-driven, transparent, and efficient supply chain management.

Originally developed in India with support from UNDP, eVIN is an open-source, public digital infrastructure that has transformed vaccine and medical supply management in multiple countries. Through this new partnership, Zambia will adapt and customize the system to its national context, ensuring that ZAMMSA and the Ministry of Health fully own, scale, and sustain the platform for long-term impact.

Speaking at the launch, representatives emphasized the importance of digital tools in building a responsive, resilient health system. eVIN will allow real-time visibility of stock levels, improve forecasting accuracy, reduce wastage, and strengthen accountability throughout the supply chain—from central warehouses to rural health facilities.

“This collaboration represents a new chapter in Zambia’s journey toward a smarter, more responsive health system. With support from the Government of India and UNDP, we are laying the digital foundation needed to ensure medicines reach the people who need them—efficiently, transparently, and reliably,” said Mr. Hameja.

Phase I of the rollout will involve customization of the platform, training of national teams, and deployment in selected districts. Lessons learned will guide nationwide expansion in subsequent phases.

UNDP reiterated its continued commitment to supporting the Government of Zambia in strengthening health systems through innovation, capacity building, and strategic partnerships. As the Resident Representative for UNDP Zambia, Dr James Wakiaga reflects, “This builds what our collective investments through the Smart Health Systems project was always meant to achieve – transforming the way care is delivered. The project has connected facilities with satellite connectivity systems, strengthened energy resilience through solarisation, and equipped frontline workers with capacity building initiatives. eVIN builds on this foundation by ensuring that every vial, every shipment, and every cold-chain unit is visible in real time. With eVIN, we are seeing the true power of partnership. UNDP remains committed to working alongside our partners to make this future possible for all.” 

The Government of India’s long-standing cooperation with Zambia in digital public infrastructure further complements this initiative, reinforcing South-South collaboration in health and technology.

Phase I will begin in two districts, paving the way for a nationwide roll-out that will ultimately reach every health facility and ZAMMSA warehouse across the country.

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For more information and media interviews, contact:

Dr Saleban Omar, Senior Programme Advisor, Saleban.omar@undp.org 

Delight Haangala, Communications Specialist, delight.haangala@szi.gov.zm

Mercy Khozi, Communications Analyst, mercy.khozi@undp.org