Our development cooperation with Zambia is concentrated to:
- Support for non-governmental organizations to promote civil forces for democracy, gender equality and accountability.
- Our direct cooperation is concentrated on three areas: energy, agriculture and health.
Energy
A lack of investment in the power industry has been hampering Zambia’s economic development. Poor people in rural areas have suffered most from a failed energy policy. Sida is therefore supporting work to develop energy capacity within the framework for sustainable development.
Sweden is now taking a leading role among donors on energy issues. Our support has contributed to the establishment of a new authority for electricity production in rural areas. We still have a role to play in expanding the energy supply to reach the poor.
Agriculture
To achieve growth on a broad front in Zambia, the country’s small farmers must have better conditions. Our cooperation therefore highlights the importance of one unified agricultural policy. We are also initiating cooperation on matters concerning the threat posed by climate change. An environmentally aware agricultural strategy is vital to Zambia’s future.
Sida is supporting the country’s long-term agricultural plan, the National Agricultural Policy, which is valid until 2015. The target is to secure small farmers’ access to food and to develop the domestic market.
Health
The Zambian health system is suffering due to a lack of resources. The HIV/Aids epidemic has further weakened the health-care system’s capacity. We are working to ensure access to basic medical care for the entire population. We take the HIV/Aids perspective into account in all programmes that we support.
Sida’s work fighting the HIV/Aids epidemic has so far resulted in the formation of a national authority, the National AIDS Council, which works to distribute preventative methods.
By focusing our support on the health-care sector, we are also involved in a project to decentralize medical care. The target is to offer greater access to health care where it is needed most – in the poor rural areas.
Book tips:
- Culture and customs of Zambia / Scott D. Taylor
- Control of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections: studies in Tanzania and Zambia / Stefan Hanson
- Aid and poverty reduction in Zambia / Oliver S. Saasa, Jerker Carlsson
