Zambia is large and landlocked in the centre of southern Africa. It shares several of its key geographical features with neighbouring Zimbabwe - the Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba (and its hydroelectric capacity), and a stretch of the Zambezi River. It also borders the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika and Tanzania, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, and Malawi. Its population, much of it urban, is estimated at about 18 million.
Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, achieved middle-income country status in 2011 during a decade (2004-2014) of impressive economic growth, averaging 7.4% per year. However, growth only benefitted a small segment of the urban population and had limited impact on poverty. Zambia ranks among the countries with highest level of inequality globally.
Our priorities
The EU partnership with Zambia is guided by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy, and the new European Consensus on Development. Zambia is a stable, long-term partner of the EU and its Member States and plays a key regional role.
One of our core objectives is to preserve Zambia’s peace and strengthen the country’s stability, while supporting an inclusive, sustainable, social, and economic development, in line with EU political priorities for international partnerships. Zambia is a fast-growing country with a young population which has been experiencing an economic and fiscal crisis, following a growing level of indebtedness, since the early 2010s.
The multi-annual indicative programme for 2021-2027 aims at maximizing the impact, sustainability, and cost-efficiency of EU engagement through the following priority areas:
Green partnerships for sustainable recovery, growth and decent jobs
We collaborate with Zambia to build green partnerships which support a climate-resilient transition towards sustainable growth and the creation of decent jobs. While promoting and investing in the green recovery and sustainable growth along the agriculture-forestry-biodiversity-water and climate nexus we help to ensure an environmentally sound and economically viable diversification of the economy and the creation of green growth and decent jobs in a circular economy to improve access to green energy and water for all.
Supporting the people of Zambia to reach their potential and build resilience
We engage with Zambia on development matters, with a focus on building a healthier, educated, and resilient population, with youth and women acting as agents of change, making a transformative and multifaceted impact on Zambia’s social, economic, and political development. To achieve that we aim to improve reproductive, sexual, maternal, infant, child, and adolescent health, including nutrition, strengthening basic education, with a focus on early childhood education and development, while enhancing technical and vocational education and training and skills development. The support will build on previous electoral support of the EU and its MS and the recommendations of EU Election Observation Missions (EU EOMs).
Fair, inclusive and peaceful society
We aim to contribute to peace and stability in Zambia through a fair, inclusive, and peaceful society in collaboration with both GRZ authorities and non-state actors. Moreover, the EU promotes human rights and improves the democratic space for citizens in Zambia - supporting public sector reform for improved delivery of public services and domestic accountability.
Our programmes
The Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Zambia for 2021-2027 amounts to €299 million.
Priority Area 1, ‘Green partnerships for sustainable recovery, growth and decent jobs’ will promote and invest in the participation of subsistence and smallholder farmers, including women farmers and youth, and in integrated, participatory, and sustainable rural development practices that improve people’s livelihoods. The objective is to ensure that Zambia’s climate change strategy is aligned with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and is in place, under implementation, and monitored. Also, establish companies and start-ups, created and managed by young male and female entrepreneurs, and increase investments in green, climate-smart, and digital businesses. Finally, the goal is to create access to energy for all and increase energy efficiency, and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Priority Area 2, ‘Supporting the people of Zambia to reach their potential and build resilience’ – aims to improve universal access to quality and affordable reproductive, maternal, child, adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAHN) services. It also aims to increase inclusive and equitable access to quality ECED, including remote and rural areas, with a specific focus on accessibility for disadvantaged groups, through strengthened system delivery capacity.
Priority Area 3, ‘Fair, inclusive and peaceful society’ will promote the reinforcement of democratic processes in Zambia while strengthening the rule of law, respect for human rights and improving efficiency, accountability, and transparency of the public administration, enabling quality public service.