Zambia
Overview
With ongoing conflict in its largest neighbor-the Democratic Republic of Congo-and political and economic instability in another-Zimbabwe-a stable, democratic, and prosperous Zambia is important for the United States and the region. About two-thirds of Zambians live in poverty. Annual incomes are well below the level at the time of independence and, at $921 a person, place the country among the world's poorest nations. Social indicators continue to decline, particularly life expectancy at birth (about 37 years) and maternal mortality (729 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies). And the country's rate of economic growth cannot support rapid population growth or the strain which HIV/AIDS related issues place on government resources.
USAID's priorities reflect the cross-cutting nature of Zambia's challenges. Assistance concentrates on promoting economic growth through trade and investment and enhancing private sector competitiveness, improving the health of Zambians, raising the quality of basic education, reducing the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS, enhancing governance, and responding to humanitarian assistance needs.
Programs
Governing Justly and Democratically
USAID implemented the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Threshold Program, an innovative activity that worked closely with the Zambian government and the private sector and has led to greater transparency, has minimized opportunities for corruption, and has reduced administrative barriers to trade and investment. The program ended in September 2008 but its impact is evident in Zambia's improved standing in corruption and business surveys.
Investing in People: Education
USAID helps to increase the quality of education for girls and other vulnerable children, improve the health and nutrition of students, support teacher training, and strengthen the Ministry of Education's policy reforms. The interactive radio instruction program is a vital way to reach school-age children who are not enrolled in government schools. This program is currently reaching 500,000 children who would otherwise have no access to education. USAID programs also support school-based health interventions, including the treatment of bilharzia (a parasitic disease) and vitamin A and iron supplements.
Investing in People: Health
USAID programs reduce disease prevalence and strengthen maternal and child health, family planning, and reproductive health. Through the President's Malaria Initiative, USAID seeks to reduce malaria-related morbidity through preventive and therapeutic interventions. With an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of nearly 17 percent, Zambia is also a focus country of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In close collaboration with the Zambian government and other donors, PEPFAR funds are scaling up integrated prevention, care, and treatment programs and targeting the cross-cutting impact of HIV/AIDS in Zambia. As a result of USAID support, more than 66,000 people now regularly receive antiretroviral treatment. More than 135,000 pregnant women have benefited from USAID's prevention of mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission services in 268 facilities. USAID is integrating HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment education in all of its work, across all sectors.
Economic Growth
Economic growth is the U.S. Government's top foreign assistance priority for Zambia. Though its economy has expanded moderately over the past five years, Zambia suffers from a lack of economic diversification, relying primarily on copper and other mineral exports. Through a comprehensive business-oriented approach, USAID addresses these constraints by strengthening the financial sector's contribution to economic growth, increasing participation in global trade and investment, improving economic policy, enhancing sustainable management of natural resources, increasing food security, and promoting public-private alliances. For example, USAID helped establish the Zambia Agriculture Commodities Exchange, a private sector transparent market instrument that provides an open market to buyers and sellers of all sizes and enhances smallholder access to markets. Commodities worth over $9 million were traded through the exchange in its first year.
Humanitarian Assistance
Sustainable economic and social progress in Zambia is hindered by recurrent droughts and floods. Innovative USAID assistance merges food security with income generation activities, agricultural projects, and private-sector oriented activities in provinces that are chronically affected by drought or flood, enabling recipients to break out of the perpetual cycle of dependency.
Back to Top ^
|
