Zambia

Quick Facts

Population: 21.3 million
People Facing Hunger: 7.7 millon

Our Impact

People Helped Last Year: 4,816
Our Team: 10
Program Start: 2022

The State of Hunger in Zambia

Zambia faces a severe humanitarian crisis driven by climate change, economic instability, and health emergencies. Prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and pest infestations have significantly impacted agriculture —the backbone of the economy —leaving 4.95 million people facing acute food insecurity. The Western, Southern, and North-Western provinces were hardest hit, with Western Province experiencing extreme hunger levels among nearly 89% of households. The crisis was compounded by a cholera outbreak in late 2023 and early 2024, straining health and water systems and deepening malnutrition.

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How We're Helping in Zambia

Action Against Hunger runs operations across nine districts in the worst-affected regions. Our multi-sectoral approach includes health, nutrition, food security, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and climate resilience programs. Our climate adaptation projects train farmers and help generate significant incomes from harvests, while reducing post-harvest losses to nearly zero. We also support biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction through sustainable agricultural and water management practices.

Action Against Hunger also conducted assessments in collaboration with national agencies to better customize interventions to needs and advocated for stronger investment in nutrition and climate adaptation. Despite infrastructure and climate-related challenges, our partnerships with local non-governmental organizations, government bodies, and communities enable us to make a measurable impact, building resilience and delivering essential aid to vulnerable populations.

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4.7K

People Trained On Sustainable Farming Practices

89%

Of Households In The Western Province Experience Extreme Hunger

Adapting to Climate Change

Farmers in Zambia are planting cowpeas - also known as black-eye peas - to cope with drought.

Planting Seeds of Hope in Zambia

Read a Q&A with Action Against Hunger’s Country Director in Zambia to learn more about our approach to tackling the root causes of hunger in the country.

Read the Story