Where We Work

Africare-Zambia

Africare’s History In Zambia

Africare‘s work in the Southern Africa region began with the support of projects in Zambia in 1978.  Over the last 30 years Africare Zambia has implemented numerous projects in the areas of agriculture, water resource development, health and humanitarian assistance.   The Zambia operation has continued to focus on innovation and impact with interventions ranging from rice cultivation to livestock production and from the rehabilitation of rural health clinics to the construction of village wells.  Major successes have been achieved in the promotion of edible oil production; the Yenga Press which began as a small-scale agricultural enterprise piloted in one Zambian village in 1988 and has since been replicated in more than 2,000 locations nationwide as well as in neighboring countries.  Additionally water projects, a cornerstone of Africare’s activity in Zambia, have included village level water provision and sanitation and efforts to mitigate the impact of both flooding and drought.

As the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be felt deeply throughout the Southern African region, Africare-Zambia has been involved in the United States government’s large scale effort to stem the tide of the disease, PEPFAR, the Presidents Emergency Fund for Aids Relief.  Due to its extensive history of working with adolescents and youth in the country, Africare has been a lead implementer of youth focused livelihood programming which through livelihoods training and critical thinking skills development seeks to enable informed decision making for youth regarding their sexuality, life goals and objectives. Additionally, youth are supported to begin their own businesses and to engage themselves actively and constructively in the building of the Zambian economy. 

Africare Zambia Today

Africare-Zambia currently provides assistance to Zambians through 11 donor- supported projects including maternal, infant and child health, youth livelihoods, water provision and sanitation promotion, and appropriate technology in Water Management.  Additionally, Africare has entered into innovative partnerships with the World Bank and the European Development Fund to support farmers at the small, medium and large commercial farming scales.  Africare has 12 project offices distributed throughout 7 of Zambia’s nine provinces and collaborates with national, provincial and local partners to contribute to Zambia’s development priorities. 

 

Country Profile Zambia

Like most of Southern Africa, Zambia suffered extensive destruction during the apartheid South Africa-backed regional destabilization war of the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the country hosts thousands of refugees from on-going and previous conflicts in neighboring countries. Also in common with most of the Southern region, Zambia has HIV/AIDS prevalence rates that are among the highest in the world, standing at about 14.3% to 15.2%. About 80% of Zambians depend on farming, although only 7 percent of the land is arable. Most live below the "extreme poverty line" of less than $1 a day. Since before independence, Zambia's economic destiny has been driven by copper, with which it is richly endowed. In 1975 world copper prices collapsed devastating the country's economy. In the wake of the global economic downturn Zambia has experienced increases in unemployment and poverty and in response the Government of Zambia has embarked on efforts to improve the agricultural sector and promote tourism.  These efforts aim to reduce Zambia’s dependence on the mining sector as a revenue source.  Among Zambia's renowned tourist attractions are the Victoria Falls along the Zambezi River, the Bangweulu Swamps and the Luangwa River valley.

REGION: Southern Africa
CAPITAL CITY: Lusaka
POPULATION: 11,479,000
LAND AREA: The size of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming combined

 

 

(Updated, October 2, 2009)