Improving food and nutrition security in Zambia

Context

In Zambia, large parts of the population suffer from malnutrition due to various factors: high poverty rates, insufficient access to health services, a lack of clean drinking water, and climate change impacts such as droughts and floods. These challenges result in a shortage of nutritious and affordable food. In addition, people often do not have sufficient knowledge about healthy nutrition or hygiene.

If children do not receive enough micronutrients during their first two years this can lead to lifelong, irreversible impacts for their health and development. Growth may be stunted both physically and mentally. In Zambia, 32 per cent of children suffer from this type of chronic malnutrition, with devastating effects on their personal lives and the economy. 

Objective

The nutritional situation and resilience of poor rural households, especially women and small children, have improved in selected districts of Eastern Province and Luapula Province.

Approach

The project targets 75,000 women of reproductive age, 20,000 children under the age of two, and 37,500 men from the same households. It aims to:

• Improve knowledge on nutrition and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) to encourage practices that ensure a balanced diet as well as appropriate hygiene and sanitation standards. Through savings groups, the project seeks to improve the economic situation of households and it fosters gender equality in decision making.
• Increase the year-round availability of staple foods from climate-resilient crops as well as nutrient-rich plant- and animal foods.
• Support decentral government offices to ensure the effective provision of nutrition-related services.
   

Last update: March 2025