United States Announces Over £50M to Support Zambia in Efforts to Combat Drought
The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced that it will provide $66.8 million (K2.6 billion) to Zambia to address the current drought, strengthen food security, and build economic and climate resilience in the country.
USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman made the announcement in bilateral discussions with His Excellency President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, and at a public launch event at the Export Trading Group fertiliser plant in Lusaka.
Prior to her meeting with President Hichilema, Ms Coleman toured the Export Trading Group fertiliser plant and met with farmers, processors, and agribusinesses. Together with the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Phiri, she launched the U.S. government’s Global Food Security Strategy country plan for Zambia for 2024-2029.
The plan will address the link between food security and a changing climate, with a focus on using drought-tolerant seeds, market strengthening, and improved dietary intake.
It will expand private sector-led solutions to strengthen food systems and drive inclusive agricultural sector growth, putting financial, digital, and productive tools into the hands of Zambian entrepreneurs.
“The U.S. government stands by Zambia as it recovers from drought, and we will be supporting those most in need and will continue to support agricultural development for many years to come,” said Ms Coleman.
Ms Coleman also announced that USAID is leading an effort called the Feed the Future Accelerator to areas of both high need and tremendous opportunity. Zambia, with its high potential for agriculture-led growth, is at the forefront of this effort.
In collaboration with partner countries, the Feed the Future Accelerator will drive the commercialisation of the agricultural sector to increase production, while also contributing to regional trade and market linkages, supporting the development of a regional breadbasket.
For over a decade, Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global food security initiative, has been a champion in the fight against hunger, poverty, and malnutrition, working to build sustainable food systems.
As part of the $66.8 million in assistance, USAID will provide $20 million (K515 million) in urgent humanitarian assistance, including life-saving food, cash, and agricultural assistance through implementing partners as an immediate response to the severe drought afflicting Zambia.
This assistance complements USAID’s existing $9.5 million (K245 million) Feed the Future portfolio to drive inclusive, long-term agricultural-led economic growth.
USAID also plans to invest an additional $5 million (K130 million) to increase the long-term food security of Zambia, to strengthen its agricultural productivity, improve nutrition, and help producers manage future shocks.
In addition, USAID intends to provide $32.3 million (K836 million) to continue to accelerate development across various sectors in Zambia, including £11 million (K285 million) in climate adaptation programming and £12 million (K310 million) to help create a policy environment that fuels job and income-generating business, trade, and investment, and is responsive to economic and climate shocks as well as good governance.
