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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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Beyond the Roadshow

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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

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Call for Proposals
Zambia Launches First-Ever Green Finance Taxonomy, Marking a Historic Milestone for Sustainable Investment in Africa

UNDP Zambia invites eligible organizations to apply for community-led conservation projects supporting Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities under ICCA-GSI Phase 2.

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Call for Applications
Calling Young Leaders: Stand Up for Youth Mental Health

The Health4Life Project is recruiting Mental Health and Health Champions aged 15–35 from Lusaka and Copperbelt to Join the Youth Mental Health Champions Programme.

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Green banner: Call for Proposals; sustainability subtitle; circular leaf-globe on the right.
Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals for GEF-SGP Operational Phase 8

Proposal to promote community-driven sustainability initiatives through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) Operational Phase Eight (OP8).

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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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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
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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