Zambia

After years of impressive economic performance and achieving lower middle-income status in 2011, Zambia’s economic performance has stalled in recent years. More than half of its population still lives below the poverty line. The COVID-19 pandemic put further strain on the economy that was already weakened by recurrent climate shocks, falling copper prices and unsustainable fiscal policies, undermining government’s efforts to deliver social protection, alleviate poverty, reduce malnutrition and achieve zero hunger

Zambia’s malnutrition rates remain among the highest in the world, with 48 percent of the population unable to meet their minimum calories requirements and more than one-third of children under five years stunted. Limited knowledge of nutrition, poor feeding practices and limited and unhealthy diets are the main impairing contributing factors. 

While food production at the national level routinely exceeds domestic requirements, the availability of and access to adequate nutritious food remains a challenge for many poor households, which is compounded by the country’s over-reliance on maize. Overweight and obesity, especially among women, is a growing problem attributed to high consumption of unhealthy diets.

Zambia’s 1.5 million smallholder farmers producing most of the domestic food supplies are extremely vulnerable to climatic shocks, as they predominately depend on rain-fed agriculture. Furthermore, they face limited access to high quality inputs, climate and post-harvest management information, sustainable markets and financial services. While women constitute 80 percent of food producers, they benefit less than men from available resources and have smaller holdings. 

The country currently hosts about 76,000 refugees and asylum seekers. More than 18,000 refugees live in the Mantapala Refugee Settlement. Most (80 percent) are women and children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and require humanitarian assistance to survive.

Since 1967, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been a strategic partner to the Government for the achievement of zero hunger. In recent years, it has driven innovation and positive change in the areas of disaster risk management, smallholder farmer support, school feeding and social protection. WFP is currently focusing its efforts on strengthening national systems and capacities and providing support for programmes and coordination in pursuit of a food-secure Zambia by 2030.