Zambia Receives Significant Payout from African Risk Capacity to Combat Drought
At the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Honourable Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, has announced a major step forward in Zambia’s disaster management. The African Risk Capacity (ARC) Agency is paying $9.98 million to Zambia and $3.33 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help deal with the severe drought affecting the country.
This payout follows a severe drought during the 2023/2024 rainfall season, which saw the lowest February to March rainfall totals in 40 years. The drought has severely impacted agrarian communities across the country, particularly in the Southern, Western, Central, and parts of the Eastern provinces. The government estimates that 49.8% of the population was affected, with 33.4% requiring urgent humanitarian aid.
Dr. Musokotwane praised the partnership with ARC, noting that the insurance payout would significantly aid the government’s relief and livelihood reconstruction efforts for the most vulnerable households.
He also highlighted the importance of market-based risk transfer initiatives in lightening the financial burden on the government, urging more organisations to participate in expanding insurance coverage in Zambia.
In addition to the financial support, ARC and its partners, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Swiss Development Cooperation, and the African Development Bank, are providing technical assistance.
This includes developing national and community-based disaster risk financing strategies, improving beneficiary targeting using ICT solutions, and establishing a monitoring and evaluation system for the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit.
Dr. Musokotwane expressed optimism that these efforts would enhance the efficiency of disaster risk management and humanitarian operations in Zambia. He called on more partners to join in improving the country’s disaster risk management landscape through market-based solutions.
