Zambia

In Zambia, the last 16 years of strong economic growth raised the average per capita income to over $1,646 and made it a lower-middle-income nation. Zambia’s 29 years of successful multi-party democracy, with two peaceful transitions between ruling political parties, has made the country one of the more stable in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the recent growth experienced within Zambia, much remains to be done to advance equitable development throughout the population.

Three out of four Zambians still live in extreme poverty and the country faces a myriad of challenges, including limited government capacity to plan and manage national development, low agricultural productivity, and inadequate transportation and energy infrastructure. Zambia is also encumbered by high unemployment, poor education outcomes, a burgeoning youth population, and health crises caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, malaria and other diseases, such as cholera and tuberculosis. 

USAID assistance improves the health of Zambians, reduces the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses, increases agriculture-led economic growth, mitigates the effects of climate vulnerability, raises the quality of basic education to increase literacy, and and enhances democratic governance.