Zambian Embassy in Rome

Food safety should always be a priority. Simple steps such as keeping food preparation areas clean, separating raw and cooked foods, and storing food at safe temperatures are essential.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has more tips on Sunday's World Food Safety Day: http://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1194118/

Zambia Reaffirms Commitment to Fighting Transboundary Animal Diseases at FAO COAG Sub-Committee

Rome - 4.6.26

Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the livestock sector through stronger regional and global cooperation on transboundary animal diseases.

The statement was delivered by First Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Nkumbu Nalwimba during the 4th Session of the FAO COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock, held from 3 to 5 June 2026 at FAO Headquarters in Rome.

The session is convened to review the draft Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation and guide policy on sustainable livestock systems, value addition, One Health, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change.

Dr. Nalwimba emphasized that livestock remains a critical pillar for rural livelihoods, food security, and economic resilience.

She noted that transboundary animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continue to threaten farmers, trade, and food systems.

Zambia’s position is to support science-based, country-led approaches that strengthen surveillance, early warning systems, and emergency response.

She welcomed the Global Partnership Programme as a timely platform to coordinate prevention, preparedness, and control efforts, and underscored the need for sustainable financing, cross-border collaboration, and partnerships with FAO.

On Peste des Petits Ruminants, Dr. Nalwimba stated that while Zambia has never recorded a case, the risk of incursion remains high. Zambia therefore supports extending the global eradication target to 2040, provided it is matched with adequate resources and technical support.

“Zambia remains committed to working with FAO and regional partners to safeguard our livestock industry and the livelihoods that depend on it,” Dr. Nalwimba concluded.

Zambia is backing its international commitments with domestic action. The livestock sector is a core pillar for economic diversification and rural transformation, evident in its first official beef export to the SADC region in October 2025 and a national target of $1 billion in annual beef exports.

To protect smallholder farmers, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has launched a livestock insurance scheme reaching 10,000 small-scale livestock farmers nationwide.

These are concrete steps turning the Global Plan of Action into income, jobs, and resilience for Zambian households.

Zambia Strengthens Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Through Law, Policy, and Treasury Accountability

Zambia has advanced a multi-sectoral approach to nutrition through a framework of accountability anchored in law, policy, and Treasury instructions.

Key measures include the enactment of the Food and Nutrition Act and the establishment of the National Food and Nutrition Commission as a statutory body.

Speaking on a panel titled “Financing Multi-Sectoral Nutrition in Zambia” during Nutrition Week in Rome at FAO Headquarters, Mathews Mhuru, Deputy Director of the Zambia National Food and Nutrition Commission, said legislating food and nutrition is the game changer. He noted that the Act creates a legal mandate for non-traditional sectors such as Agriculture, Local Government, Education, and Community Development to allocate resources to nutrition.

“This legal foundation prompts early financing and ensures nutrition budgets are treated as essential, not optional,” Mr. Mhuru added.

Zambia is now aligning nutrition financing with the upcoming 2027 national budget process. The Secretary to the Treasury’s Budget Call Circular will again mandate all ministries to plan and cost nutrition activities, driving domestic resource allocation beyond donor funding.

Consultations are also underway for the rollout of the 9th National Development Plan. The Republic of Zambia remains committed to positioning nutrition as a cross-cutting priority within the plan to ensure sustained investment and coordination across sectors.

Rome Nutrition Week was held from 25 -28 May 2026 under the theme "Shaping the Future of Joint Nutrition Action in a Changing World".

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Zambia Joins Global Leaders at Rome Nutrition Week 2026

The Zambian Mission in Rome has engaged with global leaders, experts, and changemakers this week at 'Rome Nutrition Week', held from 25–28 May 2026 under the theme "Shaping the Future of Joint Nutrition Action in a Changing World." The event focuses on shaping the future of food systems and nutrition globally.

Zambia has been in a Rome Nutrition Week Steering Committee, an ad hoc committe representing the Africa Regional Group.

Key thematic areas include local food solutions driving global nutrition impact from school meals to city-level action and identifying practical pathways to accelerate nutrition progress in a rapidly evolving global context.

For Zambia, this is a key opportunity to share experiences on home-grown school feeding programmes, climate-smart nutrition, and strengthening resilient food systems for all.

Pictured are First Secretary–Agriculture Dr. Nkumbu Nalwimba and First Secretary–Economic and Trade Zungaye Phiri showcasing Zambian products at the regional showcase for Rome Nutrition Week.

ANNUAL INFLATION RATE EASES TO 6.6 PERCENT IN MAY 2026, FROM 6.8 PERCENT IN APRIL 2026.

The latest reading places inflation firmly within the Government and Bank of Zambia’s medium-term target band of 6–8 percent, reinforcing signs of improving macroeconomic stability and easing price pressures across the economy.

On an annual basis, consumer prices increased by an average of 6.6 percent between May 2025 and May 2026, reflecting continued moderation in the cost of goods and services.

The development will strengthen investor confidence in Zambia’s ongoing economic reform programme, which has prioritized fiscal discipline, monetary stability, exchange rate management, and restoration of market confidence as part of the country’s broader recovery strategy.

Source: ZAMSTATS

ZAMBIA BACKS STRONG IFAD14 REPLENISHMENT, CALLS FOR SCALED-UP INVESTMENT IN RURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND RESILIENCE

The Government of the Republic of Zambia has reaffirmed strong support for the Fourteenth Replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD14), emphasizing the need for scaled-up investment in agriculture, rural transformation, climate resilience, financial inclusion, and food systems development across Africa.

Meanwhile IFAD Vice President GERALDINE MUKESHIMANA says the IFAD14 demonstrates that investing in rural people is not charity, but smart economic strategy. “Rural investment strengthens food security, creates jobs, reduces poverty, builds resilience, and unlocks long-tern growth, particularly for Africa’s youth and small-holder farmers,” he said.

Zambia was represented during the IFAD14 discussions, held on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville, by Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Investment at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, MULELE MAKETO MULELE.

The Zambian delegation to the AFDB Annual Meetings is led by Secretary to the Treasury FELIX NKULUKUSA. Others in the delegation are Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor – Operations Dr. FRANCIS CHIPIMO, and Bank of Zambia Director of Research Dr. JONATHAN CHIPILI.

Speaking during the discussions, Mr. MULELE noted that agriculture remains central to employment creation, poverty reduction, economic resilience, food security, and long-term inclusive growth across the continent.

He welcomed the strong and forward-looking IFAD14 framework, particularly its focus on the strategic pillars of markets, rural employment, and resilience, supported by key enablers such as private sector participation, innovation, and investment mobilization.

The Permanent Secretary further emphasized the importance of expanding support toward the “first mile” of agricultural production and rural development, where many smallholder farmers, women, youth, and vulnerable rural communities continue to face constraints related to access to finance, technology, infrastructure, productive assets, and reliable markets.

Mr. MULELE highlighted the recently approved Financial Inclusion for Resilience and Innovation Project (FIRIP), valued at approximately US$50 million, as an important step toward strengthening rural financial inclusion, agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and economic opportunities for women and young people in rural communities.

As stated by the Permanent Secretary, initiatives such as FIRIP demonstrate the important catalytic role IFAD continues to play in helping countries transition rural communities from subsistence-oriented activity toward more productive, market-linked, and resilient livelihoods.

Zambia also encouraged stronger collaboration between IFAD, Multilateral Development Banks, cooperating partners, and the private sector in mobilizing blended and catalytic financing solutions capable of narrowing Africa’s growing agricultural financing gap and supporting sustainable rural investment.

During the meeting, the Government further acknowledged IFAD’s strong financing multiplier effect under IFAD13, where every US$1 contributed by Member States helped mobilize approximately US$60 toward investments in rural transformation, resilience-building, and food systems development.

He stressed that support toward IFAD represents not only development cooperation, but also a strategic investment in global food security, economic resilience, social stability, and inclusive growth.

Mr. MULELE took the opportunity to call on Member States and development partners to support a strong and ambitious IFAD14 replenishment capable of expanding IFAD’s development impact across Africa and other developing regions.