Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) remains one of the most pervasive and underreported human rights violations globally. In Zambia, an innovative and targeted training approach is beginning to change this reality. Targeted SGBV investigative trainings are equipping police officers with the tools, skills, and sensitivity needed to deliver justice for survivors, and to rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement.

In Muchinga and Northern Provinces alone, 200 officers (108 male, 92 female) recently completed the training, bringing the total number of trained officers to 900 across nine provinces. With a national target of 1,000, Zambia is on track to establish one of the most comprehensive and survivor-centered policing responses in the region.

This training is not about ticking boxes; they are about transforming outcomes. Officers are now guided by the SGBV Investigative Training Manual, which emphasizes empathy in survivor interactions, proper evidence collection, and professional case management. Early feedback shows that survivors feel more confident in reporting cases; officers are avoiding practices that may re-traumatize victims, and cases are moving through the justice system with stronger evidence. In short, the training is helping close critical gaps that have long denied survivors the justice they deserve.

The ripple effects are already visible. Communities are beginning to place greater trust in the police, knowing that cases will be handled with professionalism and dignity. Within the Service itself, the training is also shifting culture: male and female officers are working together with a shared commitment to addressing SGBV as a serious crime, not a private or family matter.

This progress has been made possible through the Empowering Women in Peace Operations Project, supported by the Government of Canada through the Global Affairs Canada, and implemented jointly by UNDP Zambia and the Zambia Police Service. While the project has also delivered broader reforms, the Zambia Police Service’s first Gender Equality Workplace Policy, the rollout of digital SGBV training modules, and the introduction of a Gender Information Management System (GMIS), the cornerstone remains the capacity-building of officers on the ground.

This initiative is a direct contribution to UNDP Zambia’s strategic commitment to strengthening inclusive governance, advancing gender equality, and promoting access to justice as outlined in the Country Programme Document (2023–2027). By embedding survivor-centered policing practices into institutional frameworks, the SGBV training supports national priorities under the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), particularly in enhancing human and social development and upholding the rule of law. It also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which emphasizes building accountable institutions and protecting human rights. Through this integrated approach, UNDP Zambia is helping to create a safer, more equitable society where survivors of SGBV can access justice with dignity.

The impact goes beyond Zambia’s borders. Trained officers serving in international peacekeeping missions are applying survivor-centered approaches in conflict-affected settings, demonstrating that the benefits of these trainings extend to regional and global peace and security efforts.

As Zambia approaches the milestone of training 1,000 officers, the message is clear: strengthening the frontline against SGBV requires more than resources, it requires rethinking how policing is understood and practiced. By embedding survivor-centered principles into daily operations, Zambia is building a police service that protects, empowers, and restores trust. Sustained investment and institutionalization of this training will ensure that every survivor, no matter where they live, can count on justice and dignity.