Zambia
THE CURRENT SITUATION
Zambia, despite its long-term and relatively stable GDP growth (around 4% per annum), is still one of the least developed countries. Based on the UN Human Development Index 2021, Zambia ranks 154th out of 191 countries. It has one of the youngest populations in the world, which is growing rapidly and it is estimated that within 25 years Zambia's population is expected to double. A larger population will require more and more jobs, quality education and stable food production. In the capital Lusaka and in the Copper Belt province, a Zambian middle class is gradually, but very slowly, emerging. Further development is still hampered by significant income disparities (in 2015, according to World Bank data, the GINI coefficient in Zambia was 57.1) with around 60% of the population living below the poverty line or at risk of poverty.
The urbanization rate is low, with the majority of the population living in rural areas and a large proportion of them subsist on subsistence farming, which often fails to provide enough food for the whole year, even for the families of the male and female farmers themselves. The reasons for this low productivity are high vulnerability to climate change, low diversification of production and a lack of skilled labour. Agricultural development is a priority for the Zambian government to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce rural poverty. Zambia has abundant natural resources, water and fertile land and is therefore well placed to develop this sector.
CZDA ACTIVITIES
According to the Foreign Development Cooperation Concept of the Czech Republic for 2010-2017, Zambia was among the so-called other countries and projects in the areas of agriculture, apprenticeship and mother and child care were implemented there. In the 2018-2023 programme, Zambia is included as a priority country and the allocated funds are expected to increase gradually. Geographically, projects are focused in the Western and Southern provinces.
Based on the current cooperation programme, the CZDA focuses on the agriculture and rural development sector. Activities are mainly aimed at diversification and improvement of production of small and medium farmers. All pillars of sustainable development are taken into account, i.e. economic, social and environmental aspects of the interventions. At the same time, emphasis is also placed on projects to improve the quality of nutrition, including its diversity, improve eating habits, prevent malnutrition and improve the health of the population. These steps will contribute to further reducing Zambia's dependence on development aid, reducing poverty, hunger and sustaining economic growth.
Development Cooperation Programme with Zambia:
Programme for the years 2018–2023
