Zambia – Ongoing Projects

Building community resilience in food and nutrition security through agroecology (BCRFNSA) project

In cooperation with OAK Foundation.

a group of women sitting around a table and working on a large plan officials in suits or uniforms standing in front of a building under a yellow sun cover and talking towards a not visible audience

The BCRFNSA is a two-year (2023-2025) project funded by OAK Foundation. It supports 300 farmer households in adopting and implementing agroecology and raising awareness of the impact of climate change. The project aims to improve food, nutrition, and income security, enhance appreciation of the value of agroecology by farmers and decision-makers, improve access to clean, renewable energy options, promote sustainable natural resources management and climate-resilient livelihoods among smallholder farmers in the Shimbizhi ward of Mumbwa district.

The project is addressing the following challenges;

  • Changing climatic conditions
  • Reduced yield due to land degradation and loss of soil fertility
  • Loss of traditional seed varieties
  • Limited access to farming inputs and extension
  • Over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers and chemicals

 

The KAZA Project

In cooperation with WWF Germany.

people standing in a circle around a small pile of hay and manure

GLM Zambia is implementing the Agroecology component under the ‘Food Security and Habitat Protection in the KAZA Project’ being implemented by WWF. This component includes capacity building for 1080 farmers in agroecology in Kazungula, Mulobezi, and Nkeyema districts and policy advocacy.

The project seeks to improve the resilience of communities and ecosystems and the connectivity of wildlife habitats through enhanced food security, diversified income, and habitat protection in the Kavango Zambezi region.

 

Community-based strategies for sustainable natural resource management and gender equality in Monze and Mazabuka (2021-2024)

In cooperation with Afstor Oy, YWCA Zambia and NNKY (YWCA Finland).

The long-term development objective is to promote sustainably managed livelihoods, environments, and institutions to reduce inequalities and extreme poverty in six project communities: Chiyumu, Kaloba, Sikalinda, and Chisuwo in Monze district and Mwanachingwala and Munenga in Mazabuka district. The project is comprehensive and pays respect to many aspects that will further enhance the development of project communities in the long term.

In the project, the use of renewable energy is promoted by donating solar stoves to the beneficiaries. This reduces the use of firewood and thus deforestation. Trainings and awareness creation will promote the climate change mitigation and adaptation. The communities are supported in farming activities and adapting alternative livelihoods such as agroecology and small livestock. This will reduce dependency on one livelihood and thus vulnerability and increase agricultural yield improve food security. Water security is improved by constructing boreholes.

Women´s participation is central in the project. Women have the responsibility of the household work, and they are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Many project outputs, such as boreholes and solar stoves, will make women’s and children’s everyday life easier as the they do not  have to use as much time to collect water or  firewood as before. The project will also sensitize communities about gender equality and gender-based violence and improve access to the services for the victims of violence.

The project strengthens and creates participatory structures such as Project Management Committees and different project groups, improving the opportunities to participate in common activities and decision-making. Participation of women, youth and people with disability will be secured.

GLM Zambia and GLM Finland have three more partners in the project. YWCA Zambia is in charge of the gender aspect of the project. It has worked to promote gender equality and empower women since 1957. Afstor Oy produces the solar stoves distributed in the project. Their mission is to reduce the use of firewood and prevent deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa. YWCA Helsinki promotes girls’ and women’s rights and participation and sustainable development. They participate in the project to gain experience in development cooperation.