Zambia Showcases GEWEL Project at UNGA80, Lifting Women Out of Poverty
Zambia has highlighted the transformative impact of its Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) project at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, showcasing it as a successful model in tackling poverty and gender inequality.
Speaking at a side event on 26 September, Ms Mainga Kabika, Permanent Secretary at the Gender Division in the Office of the President, reported that over 30 percent of beneficiaries had been lifted out of extreme poverty.
She credited the achievement to the project’s Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) component, which provides targeted financial support, training, and access to capital.
An independent evaluation revealed a 62 percent increase in household income and an 80 percent rise in business profits among beneficiaries three years after receiving support. “These are not just statistics but stories of families overcoming destitution and women gaining greater agency,” Ms Kabika said.
The event drew strong endorsements from Zambia’s development partners, including the World Bank, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Dr Iffath Sharif, World Bank Global Director for Social Protection and Jobs, described the programme as proof that combining cash transfers with skills development creates lasting livelihoods.
Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr Chola Milambo, emphasised that women’s empowerment is essential to national progress, while Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr Chibamba Kanyama, urged other countries to adopt the model.
Officials stressed that the GEWEL project demonstrates how effective partnerships between government, international donors, and communities can reduce inequality and drive sustainable development.
