Zambia at a Glance
Zambia's transition to a multi-party democracy in 1991 brought about optimism that its economy would improve, benefiting the country's poorest citizens. Unfortunately, hopes for a sustained economic recovery went unrealized, attributed by some to the falling international price of copper, the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and frequent droughts.
Today, the landlocked and sparsely populated country remains one of the poorest in southern Africa. Zambia continues to be burdened by large international debt, a standard of living half that of the mid-1960s and a growing HIV/AIDS infection rate.
This situation is especially urgent in Zambia's rural communities where two-thirds of its population and 72% of its poor live, almost entirely as small-scale farmers. In the last year, a severe and prolonged drought ravaged farmers' crops; especially maize (corn), grown by nearly all farmers and a staple in Zambia, which is particularly sensitive to rainfall. Droughts—like that of 2005—have become increasingly frequent in the past thirty years, diminishing farmers' livelihoods and the country's food supply. As a result, food aid has become an almost annual event.
EWB recognizes that persistent rural poverty is complex and requires a multi-faceted solution. That is why we currently work long-term in Zambia:
- Crop Substitution: EWB volunteer Josephine Tsui is working to increase cultivation of sorghum, a drought resistant crop, in replacement of some the dominant maize crop.
Learn more about Josephine's work » - Water and Sanitation: Jenn Dysart, in partnership with WaterAid, is working to increase access to safe water and improved sanitation.
Learn more about Jenn's work »
(Information from the World Bank, HDI, CIDA and WaterAid)
