US govt pledges $66.8 million to bolster Zambia’s drought response, economic resilience, food security

The American government has announced that it would provide US$66.8 million to Zambia to support efforts to combat drought, enhance economic and climate resilience and strengthen food security.

USAID Deputy Administrator, Isobel Coleman, stated that her organization was leading an initiative called the Feed the Future Accelerator to address areas of both high need and tremendous opportunity.

Coleman made the announcement during bilateral discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema at the Export Trading Group Fertilizer Plant in Lusaka on Thursday.

She stated that Zambia, with its high potential for agriculture-led growth, was at the forefront of this initiative.

“The U.S. government stands by Zambia as it recovers from drought and we will be supporting those most in need while continuing to support agricultural development for many years to come,” Coleman said.

She added that in collaboration with partner countries, the Feed the Future Accelerator would drive the commercialization of the agricultural sector to increase production.

Coleman highlighted that this initiative would also contribute to regional trade and market linkages, supporting the development of a regional breadbasket.

“For over a decade, Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global food security initiative, has been a champion in the fight against hunger, poverty, and malnutrition, working to build sustainable food systems,” she stated.

As part of the US$66.8 million in assistance, USAID would provide US$20 million in urgent humanitarian aid, including life-saving food, cash, and agricultural assistance through implementing partners as an immediate response to the severe drought afflicting Zambia.

Coleman said this assistance complemented USAID’s existing $9.5 million Feed the Future portfolio aimed at driving inclusive, long-term agricultural-led economic growth.

“USAID also plans to invest an additional $5 million to increase the long-term food security of Zambia by strengthening its agricultural productivity, improving nutrition, and helping producers manage future shocks,” she announced.

Furthermore, Coleman said USAID intended to provide US$32.3 million to accelerate development across various sectors in Zambia.

She detailed that this would include US$11 million for climate adaptation programming and US$12 million to create a policy environment that fuels job and income-generating business, trade and investment, responsive to economic and climate shocks, and good governance.

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