World Bank Approves US$138 Million for Zambia’s Climate Resilience Project
The World Bank has approved US$138 million for the second phase of the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD II) project, which will build on gains made under the initial US$87.2 million programme set to conclude in December this year.
TRALARD II is fully grant-financed, with contributions from several partners: US$100 million from the International Development Association (IDA), including US$50 million under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) initiative; US$10 million from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF); US$10.6 million from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF); US$7.34 million from the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); US$7 million from Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE); and US$3.04 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Hon. Mike Elton Mposha, said the funding represents a major boost to Zambia’s National Green Growth Strategy, which aims to steer the country towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive economy by 2030.
The project will expand beyond Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces — where TRALARD I was implemented — to include Copperbelt and Southern provinces. It will support sustainable rural livelihoods, strengthen value chains, improve land-use and water resource planning, and enhance climate monitoring through upgraded meteorological systems.
A new Jurisdictional Emission Reduction Programme will also be introduced in Muchinga Province to position Zambia within global carbon markets and unlock further resources for landscape management.
TRALARD II is expected to improve sustainable management of more than 680,000 hectares of land and strengthen resilience for over 650,000 people in vulnerable communities across the country’s Miombo ecoregion.
Implementation will begin in January 2026 and run until December 2030, covering 27 districts across five provinces.
“The Government is extremely grateful for this tremendous support, which will help us protect natural resources, rehabilitate degraded areas and build resilient livelihoods. We call on all stakeholders to join us in delivering TRALARD II under a whole-of-society approach,” Mr Mposha said.
