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AFRICA
ZAMBIA
MDG7
Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability
Chingola
ZAMBIA
Livingstone
Zambia's ecosystems are diverse and support many livelihoods. However,
NAMIBIA
urgent measures need to be taken in order to protect the environment
ZIMBABWE
BOTSWANA
and prevent the degradation of natural resources. Zambia aims to
approach its environmental sustainability challenges through the integration of MDG principles in its national
development agenda.
Forests in Zambia cover about 60% of the total land surface area. An estimated 3,000 flora species and around 3,500
fauna species subsist in protected areas, which account for 40% of the total territory.
Zambia has developed several programmes focused on regulating pollution rates,promoting conservation through national parks and
biodiversity reserves and developing strategies towards the efficient use of energy in the country. Despite these important efforts,
there is a prevalent weak institutional capacity to enforce environmental laws and to coordinate efforts aiming to manage transboundary
natural resources.
Zambia has shown slight improvement in achieving the MDG target for access to safe drinking water. The proportion of the population
with access to water increased from 48% in 1992 to 51% in 2002. From a regional perspective, 37% of rural areas had access
to safe drinking water, whereas 89% of urban residents enjoyed access to water. Efforts to provide more water coverage in rural
areas, as well as to reduce water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery and cholera, are critical to achieving this MDG target.
QUICK FACTS
CURRENT PORTFOLIO BUDGET
Total UNDP-GEF and Co-Finance: $30,798,000
Total UNDP and Co-Finance: $5,745,000
Total: $36,543,000
Cumulative Total ODS Phased-Out:
7.2 ODP tonnes
ANGOLA
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC
OF CONGO
Lusaka
Ndola
TANZANIA
Kasama
MALAWI
Kabwe
MOZAMBIQUE
Despite the unavailability of data on the condition of slum dwellers
in Zambia, some observations can be made. High construction
costs, inadequate strategic planning and weak allocation of economic
resources towards infrastructure are making MDG target 11
difficult to achieve. Furthermore, the establishment of improved
data and information systems as well as the promotion of foreign
and private sector participation have yet to be enforced and have
hampered Zambia’s efforts to properly integrate MDG principles
into its national development agenda. 1
Closing Gaps in Environmental Legislation to Support Development 2
SPOTLIGHT
Until the 1980s, Zambia was one of the most prosperous nations in Sub-Saharan Africa, classified by the United Nations as
among the low-to-middle income countries. However, declining GDP since the mid-1970s, drastic reduction in copper production
–representing 95% of export earnings – and rising poverty levels caused an abrupt reversal. By 1995 was Zambia classified
as one of the LDCs, with at least two-thirds of the population living below the poverty line. Recent analysis reveals a link
between Zambia’s worsening economic situation and the current rate of environmental degradation. The poorest are almost
exclusively reliant on the environment for their livelihoods and tend to be most affected by the state of natural resources.
Various government departments in Zambia currently implement approximately 9 sectoral policies and 33 pieces of sectoral
legislation with direct effects on environmental management in Zambia. However, without a national environmental policy,
Zambia faces challenges to the effective implementation of its obligations under the Rio Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate
Change and Desertification. In 2005, to address this problem, UNDP and the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Natural
Resources began the National Capacity for Self-Assessment (NCSA) process, with support from the GEF, and project financing
of US$ 321,000. This 18-month assessment aims to identify, analyse and prioritise Zambia’s national capacity constraints and
needs in relation to implementation of the Conventions that will contribute to poverty reduction and the MDGs, and to prepare
a national strategy and action plan for developing the capacities needed to address global environmental management challenges
and to fulfil national obligations under the Conventions.
STRATEGIES
The NCSA process will tighten gaps in legislative actions, fostering a more efficient approach to environmental protection, while
demonstrating sustainable use of biodiversity and, ultimately, the return of Zambia’s prosperity.
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