By Happy Mulolani
The effects of climate change on most communities in Zambia are glaring, thereby negatively impacting livelihoods. This situation has resulted in a number of organisations scaling up appropriate interventions aimed at addressing these adverse climate change risks.
One of the projects helping to support communities through the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is the Strengthening Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods in Agro-Ecological Regions I and II in Zambia (SCRALA) project. The project is financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), with Zambia Meteorological Department and Water Resources Management Authority. This approach shows how national leadership, international finance, and operational expertise align.
The NAP process is pretty much the heartbeat of fostering national commitment to protect people, livelihoods, and ecosystems from climate risk.
Recently, various organisations and stakeholders convened in Lusaka at Mulungushi International Conference centre for the 10th edition of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2025. The Expo aimed to share experiences, strengthen partnerships, and advance climate adaptation planning. Apart from disseminating shared lessons on climate resilience, the Expo was also a platform to raise adaptation ambition and enhance access to financing.
One of the technical session focused on how SCRALA was turning “adaptation ambition into delivery.” The project which focuses on smallholders’ farmers in two agro-ecological regions in five provinces, includes Eastern, Lusaka, Muchinga, Southern, and Western. It targets 16 districts to ensure farmers cope with climate change threats through modern technology, sustainable growing techniques, and better understanding of climate shocks.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Resident Representative James Wakiaga disclosed that over 170,000 smallholder farmers have benefited since the project launch in 2019.
“SCRALA has helped to operationalise Zambia’s National Adaptation Plan in the agriculture sector, strengthening local institutions, improving the usability of climate information, and supporting climate-smart practices that are viable for smallholders and attractive to markets,” Dr Wakiaga explained.
He further noted that SCRALA has enhanced early warning and seasonal advisory services, supported climate-smart agriculture, and improved market linkages.
Dr Wakiaga cited that these interventions have benefited over 700,000 farmers, targeting 738,656 across 16 drought and flood prone districts. These interventions have helped smallholders manage risks and invest in resilient livelihoods.
“UNDP is proud to serve as a trusted partner to Government in this effort, working to ensure that climate finance translates into timely services, resilient value chains, and measurable benefits for farmers—especially women and young people who often face the greatest barriers to resilience,” Dr Wakiaga said.
And SCRALA Project Manager Theresa Kinkese, revealed Zambia had gained remarkable achievement by securing US$32 million and other co-financing76.6% of total project costs, thereby achieving 83% disbursement rate.
“The project targeted over 900,000 direct beneficiaries and three million indirect beneficiaries, achieving more than 78% of intended beneficiaries reached so far,” Ms Kinkese said.
“Over 2,000 farmers had adopted new agricultural practices and alternative livelihoods, demonstrating practical innovations and scalable technologies for building climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods,” she explained.
In his remarks, Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, John Mulongoti, reiterated the significance of strengthening climate resilience in the agriculture sector.
“The agriculture sector remains the country’s backbone, but its vulnerability, as evident with the recent severe drought, which plummeted food production, requires workable adaptation measures,” he said.
Mr Mulongoti recognised the pivotal role SCRALA has played in improved livelihoods, food security, and national economic stability.
Speaking on his behalf, Department of Agriculture Director Chizyumba Shepande stressed the sector’s vulnerability to climate change, hence the urgency to integrate climate adaptation into agricultural policies and strategies.
“The alignment of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) with Zambia’s National Agricultural Policy and the Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy, both of which prioritise innovation, sustainability, and resilience to safeguard productivity and ensure long-term food security,” Mr Mulongoti emphasized.
He commended various stakeholders, including UNDP, and GCF, for building climate resilience amid climate risks in communities that often affect smallholder farmers.
Zambia Meteorological Department, Acting Assistant Director, Micah Namukoko said SCRALA has closely worked with the department to enhance generation of weather and agro data to support farmers in planning for climate risk.
“A number of automatic weather stations have been installed and manual rain gauges in districts located in project areas, as this initiative was critical for improving climate information services to farmers,” Ms Namukoko said.
She further said ZMD has translated weather forecasts into main local languages aimed at disseminating widely through the Ministry of Agriculture.
While, Principal Agricultural Specialist – Land Management and Conservation, Joseph Cheelo stated, “The project has been promoting sustainable practises including conservation farming, climate-smart agriculture and also alternative livelihoods like goat rearing, poultry production, fish farming and beekeeping.”
And Chief Mechanisation Officer, Joseph Pakati, stressed government was advancing irrigation and mechanisation through the Mechanisation 360 Programme. Through this programme, it is envisaged agricultural productivity and efficiency will be enhanced.
“Farmers were being supported through mechanisation centres in all 10 provinces. The idea is to ensure smallholder farmers have access to mechanised equipment to enable produce the whole year and also be resilient to climatic risks,” he revealed.
But, to adequately support these interventions, there is need for climate financing, which is an ‘elephant’ in the climate space.
UNDP Program Analyst for Energy and Environment Esther Nkomo observed the need for sustained climate financing to support the implementation of various interventions.
Ms Nkomo appealed to donors to continue supporting climate financing if appropriate climate-resilient agricultural activities in Zambia and beyond are to be achieved.
In all, during SCRALA’s lifespan which will soon be ending later this year, it is clear the project has endeavoured to build resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change through a value chain approach. Since its inception in 2019, SCRALA has been anchored in the country’s National Adaptation Programme of Action on Climate Change (NAPA), 2007) National Climate Change Response Strategy (2010), National Strategy for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD, 2015) and contributes to the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). lt is evident that there has been climate risk p-planning for agriculture, agricultural production and diversification, and markets as well as commercialisation of agricultural commodities coupled with capacity building and sustainable climate financing.