The country has secured over USD 30 million in climate finance aimed at shielding smallholder farmers from the impacts of climate change.
The project, “Catalyzing a Climate Risk Protection Shield for Zambian Smallholder Farmers,” includes USD 25 million in grant financing from GCF and USD 5.26 million in co-financing from One Acre Fund Limited.
It will deliver climate risk protection, climate-smart inputs, and land restoration support to vulnerable farming communities across the country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Prudence Kaoma, described the initiative as a decisive step in embedding climate resilience into Zambia’s development agenda.
“Zambia is placing climate risk management at the core of its development. Our accreditation to the Green Climate Fund is not just a technical milestone; it is a mandate to turn climate finance into concrete, measurable results for our people.
She emphasized that the project will provide farmers with predictable support in times of climate stress.
“When the rains come late or end too early, it is not a graph that feels the shock, it is a family deciding whether they can keep children in school or sell livestock to survive. This initiative will ensure timely support, restore degraded land, and sustain agricultural productivity through climate-smart solutions,” she added.
Kaoma noted that the project directly supported Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and reflected Government’s commitment to integrating climate resilience into national planning and budgeting.
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA – SEOUL
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Release)
ZAMBIA SECURES USD 30 MILLION TO PROTECT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS FROM CLIMATE SHOCKS
Seoul, Republic of Korea – Zambia has secured over USD 30 million in climate finance aimed at shielding smallholder farmers from the impacts of climate change.
The project, “Catalyzing a Climate Risk Protection Shield for Zambian Smallholder Farmers,” includes USD 25 million in grant financing from GCF and USD 5.26 million in co-financing from One Acre Fund Limited. It will deliver climate risk protection, climate-smart inputs, and land restoration support to vulnerable farming communities across the country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Ms. Prudence Kaoma, described the initiative as a decisive step in embedding climate resilience into Zambia’s development agenda.
“Zambia is placing climate risk management at the core of its development. Our accreditation to the Green Climate Fund is not just a technical milestone; it is a mandate to turn climate finance into concrete, measurable results for our people
She emphasized that the project will provide farmers with predictable support in times of climate stress.
“When the rains come late or end too early, it is not a graph that feels the shock, it is a family deciding whether they can keep children in school or sell livestock to survive. This initiative will ensure timely support, restore degraded land, and sustain agricultural productivity through climate-smart solutions,” she added.
Ms. Kaoma noted that the project directly supported Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and reflected Government’s commitment to integrating climate resilience into national planning and budgeting.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Mr. Andrew Banda, said the initiative marked a significant milestone under the environmental sustainability pillar of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP).
“This is a critical step in safeguarding livelihoods, strengthening food security, and building resilience among our rural communities,” he said.
He highlighted the growing threat of climate change to Zambia’s agriculture, citing recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall patterns, and stressed the importance of strong partnerships.
“Through collaboration with partners such as the Green Climate Fund, we are turning climate ambition into tangible and impactful results. By enhancing access to climate finance and advancing innovative risk protection mechanisms, we are safeguarding livelihoods, strengthening food security, and building resilience across our rural communities,” he said.
Ambassador Banda expressed appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministries of Finance and National Planning and Green Economy and Environment, the Green Climate Fund, and cooperating partners for their unwavering support.
Issued By
Zondi Chilembo
First Secretary – Tourism
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA – SEOUL