Zambia is a large, landlocked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the center of southern Africa. It shares its border with Angola, Botswana, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Zambia is vulnerable to high climate variability, droughts, seasonal floods and flash floods, extreme temperatures, and dry spells, which have increased in frequency, intensity and magnitude. The country's vulnerability is exacerbated by its dependence on the exploitation of its natural resources, particularly through agriculture, forestry, and mining.
investing in zambia
CIF’s investments in Zambia are through its Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), Forest Investment Program (FIP), and Scaling up Renewable Energy Program (SREP). The aims are to safeguard hard-won development gains and promote climate resilience for vulnerable sectors and populations.
Zambia’s $91-million PPCR investment plan is supporting climate-resilient development planning and targeted investments in climate-proofing the country. This includes roads and canal systems, building the climate resilience of rural populations along the Kafue and Barotse subbasins of the Zambezi River through climate-smart livelihoods, strengthening inter-agency coordination to institutionalize climate risk screening and management in sector programs and projects. A component is also committed to piloting private sector involvement in promoting resilience.
Its FIP investment plan introduces measures to reduce the urban demand for charcoal, support income-generating activities driven by forest conservation and maintenance, as well as increase the sustainability and efficiency of agricultural practices.
Finally, Zambia’s SREP investment plan is aimed at expanding renewable energy.
In 2022, the African Zambezi River Basin Region was selected as one of the first participants in the Nature, People and Climate investment program. Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia seek finance to support the restoration of 30,000 hectares of degraded wetlands along the Zambezi River Basin.
