Zambia Commended for Increased Funding to Social Protection

Zambia has been commended for increasing its social protection budget allocation from 2.4 percent in 2020 to 6.2 percent in 2026. The recognition occurred during the Inter-Regional Meeting on Strengthening Inclusive, Sustainable and Shock-Responsive Social Protection in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Permanent Secretary for Social Welfare and Child Development, Ms Angela Kawandami, attributed the rise to deliberate policy shifts, fiscal reforms, and prioritization of social protection for poverty reduction. She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and droughts in 2021/2022 and 2024/2025 increased demand for social protection interventions, prompting the government to strengthen support for vulnerable households.

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