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This narrative report highlights the impact and outcomes of the Zambia Nurse and Life Skills Training Program, implemented by ChildFund International in partnership with AMREF and the Mastercard Foundation between 2012 and 2019. The program was designed to address Zambia’s critical nursing shortage while creating employment opportunities for vulnerable youth. Using a blended e-learning model, the initiative successfully trained nursing students across all 10 provinces. In addition to technical nursing education, the program integrated life skills training, scholarships, and infrastructure support to ensure student success and long-term sustainability. Today, the program’s outcomes continue to strengthen Zambia’s healthcare system and serve as a model for public-private collaboration in workforce development.

Zambia’s youth are key to sustainable development. With over 5.3 million youth aged 19 to 34, representing nearly 27% of the total population, this demographic holds tremendous potential to drive economic growth, innovation, and national progress. Yet, this potential is threatened by challenges such as high unemployment, limited access to opportunities, and substance abuse. The 2024 National Youth Policy is a bold response to these realities. Anchored in a multi-sectoral approach, the Policy outlines strategic interventions across key sectors including entrepreneurship, education, health, ICT, arts, sport, environmental protection, and youth leadership. Building on the 2015 framework and aligned with Zambia’s Vision 2030, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals, this Policy envisions a Zambia where every young person is empowered, productive, and fully engaged in national development.

This report highlights ChildFund’s global investments in improving children’s health, nutrition, and sanitation — essential foundations for their overall development and well-being. In the year ending June 2020, 20% of ChildFund’s nearly $216 million in global expenditures was dedicated to health-related programs, reflecting our deep commitment to ensuring that children, especially in their early years, grow up healthy and secure. In addition to health, the report outlines our investments in early childhood development, education, emergency response, and livelihoods — all supported by cross-cutting priorities such as gender equity, local capacity building, youth empowerment, and social inclusion. Aligned with country priorities and rooted in community engagement, ChildFund’s programs aim to strengthen child-focused systems and influence policies that protect and uplift children and youth worldwide.

ChildFund has released an updated Partnership Strategy to align more deeply with its core purpose and deliver stronger, more impactful programs for children. Since 2009, ChildFund’s global strategy has emphasized building a strong core program. This update responds to emerging challenges—shifting funding landscapes, increasing local NGO capacity, and a demand for greater program quality and scale. Rooted in the experience of working with local partners across diverse contexts, the strategy sets a clear vision: to build and maintain a fit-for-purpose, purpose-driven portfolio of strong partners that advance child development at the local level and influence change at national and global levels. It reinforces ChildFund’s commitment to long-term, values-aligned partnerships that drive program quality, advocacy, innovation, and sustainable impact

The Children’s Code Act, 2022 consolidates and modernizes laws relating to children by making comprehensive provision for the rights of the child, parental responsibilities, alternative care arrangements such as guardianship, foster care, and adoption, and the protection of children in need of care or in conflict with the law. The Act further provides for the regulation and delivery of child welfare services, establishes the National Child Development Council, and aims to ensure the holistic development, protection, and participation of every child in Zambia.

This Fact Sheet provides a snapshot of Zambia’s worst agricultural season in over four decades, detailing the devastating impact of prolonged drought on food security, child nutrition, and community well-being. With over 9 million people affected across 84 districts, including 2.9 million children under five, the crisis has pushed vulnerable families into acute food insecurity and heightened health risks. ChildFund’s Emergency Response Nutrition Program aims to combat rising malnutrition in hard-hit districts such as Kafue, Chongwe, Rufunsa, Shibuyunji, and Chilanga. The program targets over 15,000 vulnerable individuals—primarily children and pregnant/lactating women—with life-saving nutritional support, including therapeutic feeding and iron-rich supplements. As Zambia faces a deepening humanitarian crisis, immediate interventions are needed to protect lives, restore dignity, and prevent long-term harm to the country’s youngest citizens. This publication highlights urgent needs and outlines targeted solutions.

ChildFund is committed to tackling environmental challenges through innovative, child-centered solutions that build community resilience, promote clean energy, and support sustainable livelihoods. This capacity statement outlines our proven approaches, such as smart agriculture, biodigesters, and fuel-efficient stoves, that reduce environmental impact, improve food security, and empower youth as climate leaders. Aligned with Zambia’s NDCs, NAP, and global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and SDGs, our work prioritizes environmental education, green job creation, and locally driven action for lasting change.

This document outlines ChildFund Zambia’s five-year strategic direction, programmatic priorities, and development goals aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children and their communities across Zambia. This Country Strategic Plan 2022–2026, is a roadmap that reflects the collective vision and efforts of our dedicated staff, local partners, community volunteers, and global stakeholders. This plan guides our work to ensure that every child in Zambia grows up in a free, safe, and nurturing environment.