Zambia

About us

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

In support of the Government of Zambia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has embarked on the implementation of a five-year Country Programme Document (CPD) 2023-2027. UNDP works with the Government and people of Zambia to achieve the Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementation of National Development Plans. UNDP focuses on areas that have a multiplier effect through a targeted build-up of capacities, policies, the creation of dialogue space, and scalable downstream interventions. Proposed downstream interventions seek to provide platforms for citizen engagement in democratic processes and facilitate access to skills, knowledge and new technologies for increased income generation.

Our Vision/Mandate

To help countries eradicate poverty in all its forms, accelerate structural transformations for sustainable development, and build resilience to crises and shocks.

Our Background

UNDP’s association with the Republic of Zambia dates back to 1966, soon after Zambia’s independence.   This was followed by the start of its formal programme operations in Zambia in 1983 when it signed the Standard Basic Agreement with the Government of Republic of Zambia. Through these first twenty years of cooperation, the focus was on a country building up institutional and technical capacities, to face a range of emerging development challenges. A pressing need was to train large numbers of technicians, managers and administrators to manage the affairs of a young independent country.

In the late 1990s and through the next decade, with the onslaught of HIV/AIDs and the threats to the natural resource base, UNDP support to Zambia shifted gear to focus on responding to these key human development challenges and to managing and protecting the natural resources in the country. UNDP backing for the establishment of the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Human Right Commission came through at this time. Key demonstration projects also started up, including the establishment of honey processing plants, production of low-cost construction materials for urban housing in poorer communities, and training of skilled and semi-skilled labour through technical and vocational training programmes. UNDP also supported the development of localized agricultural research with the aim of increasing both food security and the nutrition standards of the rural population.

How we do it

Our operational framework in the Republic of Zambia is defined through the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2023-2027 approved by the UNDP Executive Board in 2022 to support and contribute towards implementation of the Zambia – United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework, which is underpinned by the three UNDP strategic outcomes: environmentally sustainable inclusive economic growth; democratic governance for enhanced citizens’ participation; and strengthening institutions to ensure access to basic services. These focus areas are expected to strengthen policy coherence, accountability, institutional reform and public participation for reduction of poverty and inequalities.

  • The CPD focuses on working with partners and the people of Zambia to overcome emerging socio-economic and development challenges to mainstream the SDGs into national development priorities. UNDP is recognized as a trusted partner because of its longstanding relationship at the country level and its ability to facilitate neutral dialogue and coordination.
  • We provide high-level technical advisory support delivered through innovative knowledge management networks. Our global presence comes with a wealth of knowledge from our years of experience designing and delivering development solutions through policy support, capacity building and service delivery.

Our support programmes are implemented through two mechanisms at the country level:

  • National Implementation Modality (NIM) – Government or a national institution implements the project/programme. NIM is applied when there is adequate capacity within the Government or partnering institution to effectively manage project implementation and fiduciary management.
  • Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) – UNDP implements project/programmes directly in support of national interests and this includes capacity development as an integral part of the programme to enhance institutional capacity and systems for sustainable management and accountability.