The Republic of Zambia is a landlocked country in central-southern Africa, full of dramatic natural beauty and astonishing wildlife.
The Republic of Zambia is a landlocked country in central-southern Africa, full of dramatic natural beauty and astonishing wildlife. Most visitors would come to see the majestic Victoria Falls, but leave with new insight into another of Zambia’s true wonders – the resilience and strength of a people grappling with extreme poverty.
After a period of steady economic growth over the last decade, Zambia’s economy came under strain during 2015 and 2016, largely due to a combination of falling global copper prices, severe power outages, and low rainfall. As the economy retracted, the already low average wages of workers fell, with the gross nation income reported at just US$3,326 in 2020. Economic conditions worsened in 2020-2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Of the country’s 18 million people, more than 58% live below income poverty line (PPP US$1.90 per day), and 21% experience severe, multi-dimensional poverty.
Many of the poorest people live in households headed by women. Women experience high degrees of domestic violence, and child marriage is still commonly practised, especially in rural areas.
Across most of southern Africa, prevailing land heritage systems discriminate against women, and there are also major discrepancies between men and women in terms of access to healthcare and education.
Yet women are largely responsible for food production and many other income-generating activities and household duties, while men often migrate to urban areas in search of employment.
AID partner with the Zambia Anglican Council Outreach Program (ZACOP) working together to address gender inequality. ZACOP is the development and social service arms of the Anglican Church in Zambia (part of the Province of Central Africa), and the projects AID supports are designed to address gender-based violence and encourage the empowerment of women. ZACOP sees gender-based violence as a problem for the whole community, and this belief undergirds their approach to tackling the issues. The work supported by AID targets rural communities in eastern Zambia, where people are experiencing the greatest challenges.
Your support of AID is vital in ensuring families and communities in Zambia are empowered to reach their full potential, breaking cycles of domestic violence, and impacting on the well-being of families for generations to come.
In addition to the work of AID in Zambia, ABM also supports St John’s Seminary in Kitwe, and the clergy training program, which is designed to equip students and their families with both ministry and livelihood skills for service in the church.
Zambia Projects
Gender Equality and Ending Family Violence
Support action groups working to end gender-based violence through challenging community structures and behaviours in Zambian villages.
St John’s Anglican Seminary
Support St John the Evangelist’s Seminary to nurture the future leaders of the church in Zambia.
Emergency Updates
Global: COVID-19 Update
Engaging in COVID-19 awareness and COVID-19 economic relief is not always easy anywhere in the world. Anglicare PNG staff recalled...
Project Updates
Evaluating Impacts on Gender Equality in Zambia
AID recently completed an independent evaluation of four years of its Integrated Gender Project in four Zambian villages, and the results show many have benefited.