Zambia

Zambia

Current situation

Although Zambia is a part of the group of economically booming “African lions”, despite its long-term increase in GDP it is still one of the world’s least developed countries (LDCs). According to the Human Development Index Zambia ranked 144^th out of 189 countries in 2017. There is a huge income gap and 60% of the population lives below the poverty line.

A middle class is gradually emerging in the capital Lusaka and the Copper Belt Province in the north of the country. However, rural regions, which are home to the majority of the population, are still undeveloped. Most people work in subsistence farming, where in many cases farmers are unable to provide the recommended amount of food for the entire year, even for their families. The cause of this low productivity is the high dependence on climate change, low diversification and a lack of skilled labour.

The development of agriculture is a priority for the Zambian government in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and to reduce poverty in rural areas. Zambia has ample natural resources, water and fertile land, so this sector can be expected to develop further in the future.

CzechAid activities

According to the Czech Development Cooperation Strategy for 2010–2017, Zambia was classed as a so-called other country and the projects implemented here focused on agriculture, apprentice education and care for mothers and children. In the 2018–2023 programme Zambia is classed as a priority country and the funds allocated will gradually increase. In geographic terms projects focus primarily on the Western and Southern Provinces.

As part of its current cooperation programme CzechAid is focusing on agriculture and rural development. Activities are aimed particularly at diversifying and improving the production of small and medium-sized farmers. All areas of sustainable development will be taken into account, i.e. the economic, social and environmental aspects of intervention. Support will also be given to projects intended to improve nutrition, including nutritional diversity, improve the eating habits of risk groups of the population and prevent malnutrition.

These steps help to further reduce Zambia’s dependence on development aid, prevent poverty and hunger, and make economic growth more sustainable.

Development Cooperation Programme with Zambia:
Programme for the years 2018–2023