NDF Board approves EUR 10 million for climate resilience in Zambia
Jason Mulikita
In June, our Board members approved a grant of EUR 10 million to the ‘Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development II’ project.
Zambia stands in a crucial juncture in its development journey and is facing substantial challenges in achieving sustainable economic growth, building climate resilience and reducing their poverty rates. Currently, over 60% of the country’s population lives below the poverty line, and even higher in vulnerable rural communities, where livelihoods are predominantly dependent on rainfed subsistence farming and the extraction of natural resources. This heavy reliance on climate-sensitive activities leaves rural communities particularly exposed to the adverse impacts of climate change, threatening their economic stability and long-term well-being.
Sustainable forests and natural resources management are vital for climate resilience, eco-system services, biodiversity and not least maintaining sustainable livelihoods. Yet, Zambia faces some of Africa’s highest deforestation and land degradation rates, driven by charcoal production, unsustainable farming, wildfires and illegal logging. In response to these challenges, the government is committed to protecting and restoring natural resources, creating green jobs, and fostering social inclusion and long-term prosperity.
Protecting natural resources and livelihoods
TRALARD II, a project implemented by the Government of Zambia and facilitated by the World Bank, aims to enhance natural resource management, such as enhancing food security, energy and watershed management in Zambia. The project’s activities will have a strong focus on sustainable and inclusive development, highlighting the significant opportunities for creating jobs in agriculture and forestry.
One of the project’s aims is to strengthen the institutional and governance frameworks and capacities, and promoting community participation in these activities, including empowering women, youth and people with disabilities.
“At NDF, we prioritise financing high-impact projects in the lower-income countries. In Zambia, this project not only protects the natural resources and the people depending on it, but also fosters social inclusion and gender equality, which is one of the priorities in our financing criteria,” says Ole Stubdrup, Program Manager at NDF.
NDF has provided a grant of EUR 10 million for TRALARD II, out of the total funding of EUR 120 million for the project.
