Attachments
Overview
WFP continued to respond to the challenges prioritised in the 2018 zero hunger strategic review commissioned by the Government of Zambia, which recognised hunger and malnutrition as multi-faceted issues requiring a collaborative, multi-sectoral and integrated approach. In collaboration with the Government and key strategic partners, WFP finalised the implementation of its Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2019-2023) in June 2023.
WFP made significant efforts to meet the food and nutrition needs of crisis-affected populations, including refugees, vulnerable people, and smallholder farmers, in combating food insecurity and malnutrition across the country although facing the challenge of shifting donor priorities and unpredictable funding.
Partnerships with the Government, cooperating partners, United Nations agencies, multilateral agencies, the donor community, academia, and the private sector were key in implementing the 2019-2023 CSP. WFP worked with six cooperating partners, private sector companies, academic institutions and government ministries and departments in the first half of 2023.
In the first half of the year, WFP reached over 138,000 (51 percent female) people with cash and food assistance, smallholder farmer support, nutrition improvement, early warning, and social protection interventions. Across its programming, WFP developed key nutrition messages tailored across multi-sectoral government areas and developed a gender training guide that is used across the sectors.
Under strategic outcome 1, WFP continued its provision of food and nutrition assistance to crisis-affected individuals in Zambia, including refugees and asylum seekers. This support aimed to complement government efforts in responding to severe flooding during the 2022/2023 rainy season. WFP's flood response addressed the food security and nutrition needs of those affected by the floods, reaching over 55,000 beneficiaries with food and cash assistance in-kind across six districts. The flood recorded an overperformance, as WFP assisted over 11,000 individuals, surpassing the planned 600 beneficiaries, and provided cash transfers to over 40,000 beneficiaries, exceeding the planned 14,000, in the first half of the year. Additionally, WFP provided cash assistance to refugees in the Mantapala Refugee Settlement, although resource constraints resulted in reduced rations to 70 percent of the required amount for the refugee population.
Under strategic outcome 2, WFP worked to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable populations in Zambia as part of the broader effort to combat all forms of malnutrition. A key government objective is to reduce stunting among children under five years from 35 percent to 25 percent by 2030. WFP implemented nutrition interventions and collaborated with various stakeholders, including other UN agencies, government ministries, and private sector partners. Notably, WFP supported the Scaling Up Nutrition project across 17 districts and, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), implemented the "Tobacco-Free" alternative livelihoods project. However, due to limited funding, some activities, such as sensitization campaigns and the promotion of locally available nutritious foods, could not be fully carried out.
Under strategic outcome 3, WFP and its partners supported over 80,000 (52 percent women) smallholder farmers, strengthening resilience by promoting climate-smart agriculture, crop diversification, and post-harvest management. WFP provided training, knowledge sharing, and collaboration opportunities to strengthen the agricultural sector and improve market and financial access for smallholder farmers. However, challenges remained in implementing some activities due to limited funding.
Under strategic outcome 4, WFP provided technical support in strengthening the national social protection system and disaster risk management, including early warning and preparedness.
Finally, under strategic outcome 5, WFP continued providing logistics and technical advisory support to the Government, other UN agencies, NGOs, and the broader humanitarian community.
WFP remained committed to promoting gender equality by providing training on climate-smart agriculture post-harvest management, savings for change, and financial literacy to address knowledge gaps between women and men, girls, and boys, with a higher proportion of women and adolescent girls being trained. These deliberate efforts to empower women and ensure their inclusion in various initiatives led to positive impacts on agricultural productivity, nutrition security, and overall economic well-being for both women and men.
WFP transitioned to a new CSP covering the period from July 2023 to June 2028, which provided a roadmap for WFP to consolidate its position in the promotion of social protection, nutrition integration, sustainable and resilient food systems while maintaining humanitarian assistance when needed and supporting the Government to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 17.