Welcome to USAID/Zambia - Message
from the Mission Director
Welcome to USAID/Zambia’s Web site!
Here you will discover what work USAID is doing to help the wonderful
country of Zambia. USAID works with many partners around the world to
build and sustain democratic, well-governed states that will respond
to the needs of their people and conduct themselves responsibly in the
international system. Assistance is provided by the American people
to the people of Zambia in many different ways. It supports economic
growth, focusing on improving agriculture and developing markets for
Zambian products; raising the quality of basic education, especially
in community schools; supporting the health system with interventions
that help contain the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and control of malaria and
tuberculosis, and helping Zambia deal with problems of poverty and food
insecurity.
We hope that you will enjoy the narratives, success
stories and other materials on this web site! We wish you good surfing.
Sincerely,
Melissa Williams
USAID Zambia - Mission Director.
USAID/Zambia's Programs
The United States Agency for International Development has
operated a mission in Zambia since 1977. The program works to improve
the lives of poor Zambians. Current development activities focus on
four key areas: agriculture and economic growth, basic education, integration
of population, health and nutrition programs and democracy and governance.
USAID/Zambia conducts its programs with a staff of seven Americans and
72 Zambians and an annual budget of about $30 million. Programs are
also implemented with the help and support of many partners, including
the Zambian government, local and international non-governmental organizations
(NGO's), and United States-based contractors.
USAID/Zambia's program supports the United States government's foreign
policy interest of furthering stable, vibrant, growing economies in
Africa. In Zambia, USAID is assisting in the consolidation of Zambian
Government reforms, focusing on four key sectors: increasing rural
incomes, basic education, health, and democratic governance. The current
strategy is aimed at fulfilling the promise of reform measures put
in place during the first part of this decade.
After close consultation with the Government of Zambia, other stakeholders
and partners, USAID determined that it could be most effective in
the following sectors:
Economic
Growth - USAID has two decades of experience
in Zambia working in this area and has had exceptional success supporting
liberalization reforms and implementing privatization. The challenge
now is to spread the benefits of reform. Basic
Education - This is a new sector for USAID/Zambia, but USAID has
extensive global experience, especially with the decentralization
of education and bringing decision making to the lowest level. Health,
Population, and HIV/AIDS - In addition to its extensive experience
in Zambia, USAID is a world leader in innovative approaches to integrated
health services delivery. Democracy
and Governance - USAID has developed considerable expertise in
Zambia over the past four years. Participatory democracy is a new
concept in Zambian politics. The US, as a leader of the democratic
world, can help Zambia define an appropriate model for its democracy.
HIV/AIDS Multisector- Based on many years
of global experience, USAID has developed innovative interventions
that cut across all sectors in order to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic
in Zambia. USAID sees the deepened and better implementation of reforms
in each of these sectors as crucial for Zambia's sustainable development.
These key sectors are within the Mission's manageable interest. They
are being supported through the four Strategic Objective Teams (SOs)
highlighted above. In combination with programs of other donors in
key sectors, such as macro-economic reforms, transport, and industry,
they can make a difference in the lives of Zambians.
USAID's History in Zambia
United States economic assistance to Zambia predates the country's
independence. In the mid-1950s, a number of Zambians received scholarships
to study in the United States. In the 1960s, an expanded USAID-financed
program provided training and some food aid.
At independence in 1964, Zambia was the second richest nation in
Africa south of the Sahara. However, by the late 1970s, the strong
post-independence economy had stalled. Copper prices had collapsed
and copper ore exports declined. In 1977, the United States responded
to these problems by formally creating USAID/Zambia.
Two decades after independence, Zambia went from being one of the
richest countries in sub-Saharan Africa to one of the poorest. By
the late 1980s, the economy had effectively collapsed and important
social indicators, such as infant mortality, were increasing. This
period coincided with the onset of the AIDS epidemic, which strained
the already beleaguered public health system to the breaking point.
Hindered by destructive policies similar to those weakening the economy,
the health and education systems collapsed. There were acute shortages
of essential medical supplies, facilities fell into disrepair and
many Zambian health professionals began moving abroad in search of
livable wages. Large numbers of AIDS orphans became another major
social problem.
For many years, political constraints frustrated economic assistance
and development efforts in Zambia. However, in 1991, Zambia saw its
ruling party swept from power. A new government came in with a platform
based on liberalizing the economic and political systems. Since this
change, there have been dramatic improvements in the structure and
performance of the economy. Zambia is now more open in many respects
and the economic situation is more promising, but much more remains
to be done. USAID supports programs that work towards growth with
equity.
USAID/Zambia's principal goal is to help Zambia realize the immense
economic potential it possesses. Unfortunately, most Zambians are
not yet benefiting from this potential. There is a long way to go
in delivering benefits to all Zambians. Regrettably, improvements
in social conditions have been hardest to achieve. USAID provides
about $50 million of assistance to Zambia annually.
Link
to Partners
USAID/Zambia FY 2005 Annual Report
[pdf,243KB]- a document
summarizing USAID/Zambia's program performance over the last reporting
period.
