Zambia

Zambia is a large, landlocked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the center of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that expand its regional market for goods and services.

Zambia is experiencing a large demographic shift and is one of the world’s youngest countries by median age. Its population, much of it urban, is estimated at about 19. 7 million (2022 population census) with a rapid growth rate of 2.7% per year, reflecting the relatively high fertility rate. As the large youth population attains reproductive age, the population is anticipated to double in the next 25 years, resulting in additional pressure on the demand for jobs, health care, and other social services.

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Zambia’s economy is recovering from drought, with growth, estimated at 4.6% in 2025, driven by mining, agriculture, and tourism. Public debt decreased from 133.4% of GDP in 2023 to an estimated 93.4% in 2025, as agreements to restructure about 94% of Zambia’s external debt are put in place. GDP growth is projected to average 5.3% in 2026–28, supported by activity in agriculture, industry (including mining and agrifood processing), as well as services linked to mining, agriculture, and tourism. However, climate risks, shortages of hydroelectric power, and ongoing reliance on mining pose significant threats to an otherwise positive outlook. Poverty is expected to decline by roughly 1 percentage point annually through 2027, but this progress could accelerate over the medium term as subsistence agriculture transforms, and urban labor markets improve.

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Zambia ranks among the countries with highest levels of poverty and inequality globally. More than 58% (2015) of Zambia’s 19.5 million people earn less than the international poverty line of $1.90 per day (compared to 41% across Sub-Saharan Africa) and three quarters of the poor live in rural areas. World Bank support to Zambia commenced in 1955, well before it attained its independence in 1964.

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The World Bank Group Zambia Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY25-29 supports the government’s development goals and is aligned with the National Development Plan and Vision 2030.The CPF reinforces the importance of the private sector, good governance, and resilience, and focuses on: Improving business environment and improving connectivity and increasing energy access to create more and better jobs; Improving education, skills and health outcomes for the future labor force, and improving targeting and effectiveness of social protection; improving natural resources management and climate-smart agriculture and enhancing climate risk management systems and financing.

The World Bank portfolio in Zambia is comprised of 24 national projects, one trust fund and five regional projects with a total commitment of $3.2 billion (September 2025). It covers agriculture, education, energy, environment, finance & private sector, governance, health, macroeconomics, social protection, transport, and water.

The World Bank portfolio in Zambia is comprised of 22 national projects, one trust fund and five regional projects with a total commitment of $3.2 billion (September 2025). It covers agriculture, education, energy, environment, finance & private sector, governance, health, macroeconomics, social protection, transport, and water.

IFC’s investment and advisory portfolio is currently $116.4 million and covers agribusiness, energy, manufacturing, retail and tourism property, the financial sector, and the telecom sectors. It promotes sustainable private sector development by improving the investment climate, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and engaging in the development of key sectors such as infrastructure, agribusiness, and financial services.

IFC is backing commercial agribusiness operations which support smallholder farmers, assisting digital and renewable energy, providing financing facilities for support to SMEs, and advisory support to improve the credit infrastructure and increase access to finance.

MIGA support as of February 2025 stands at $170.7 million and spans projects across the manufacturing, energy, financial and fintech sectors, such as a 120MW hydropower project, an equity investment and capital optimization for a financial institution, and a fintech mobile money project.

PARTNERS

The African Development Bank, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), European Union, International Monetary Fund, United Nations agencies, governments of German, Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States are among the partners of the World Bank.

The World Bank Group’s strategy adheres to the principles agreed with other partners supporting Zambia's development efforts, as part of the Cooperating Partner Group (CPG).

The World Bank is currently working on the Zambia Umbrella Trust Fund, formally known as the Zambia Cooperating Partners Umbrella Program (ZamCUP), a newly established multi-donor trust fund (MDTF) designed to support Zambia’s development priorities under the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for FY2025–29. It aims to consolidate efforts of cooperating partners (CPs) into a single, coordinated platform.

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Agribusiness & Trade Project, focused on jobs and economic transformation, supported 98,000 people directly, plus 600,000 through aggregator models. 180 productive alliance subprojects received grant financing, coaching, training, and mentorship. As a result, nearly 57% of Producer Organizations met their commercialization agreements with commercial buyers and demonstrated a 48% increase in average gross sales, and 3,000 jobs were created.

The Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment & Livelihoods (GEWEL) Project ($448.5 million 2016-2025) has benefited 139,400 women with a package of life and business skills training, and  productive grants. Results from the randomized control trial impact evaluation of Supporting Women Livelihood show that the grants had significant positive impact on household food security, savings, income, and diversification. The Keeping Girls in School component enrolled 148,616 girls in secondary schools, exceeding the target of 80,000 and made strides in addressing school-related gender-based violence (GBV).

The Transforming Landscapes for Resilience & Development Project finances investments to help vulnerable communities overcome climate impacts, ensuring food security and climate-resilient income activities and infrastructure. 31,514 households received alternative livelihood investments, exceeding the target of 27,836, with 55% being female-headed. Sustainable landscape management practices now cover 99,515 hectares (target: 75,000 hectares).

The Education Enhancement Project is improving quality of teaching and learning conditions in primary and secondary schools and increasing access to secondary education. 82 secondary schools were constructed and 43,840 students (21,920 female) enrolled (grades 8-12). 3,250 science and math teachers were trained, enhancing subject knowledge and pedagogical skills. School attendance rates increased by 15% in targeted regions. 1,500 classrooms were equipped with modern teaching technology.

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