In Zambia, climate change-induced droughts have intensified, posing severe risks to agriculture—the backbone of the nation’s economy and a vital source of livelihood for its people. The Southern and Eastern Provinces, key regions for maize production, are especially vulnerable, with recurring drought events undermining food security and economic stability. Comprehensive drought risk assessments are vital for informed decision-making and effective adaptation strategies. The “Strengthening the Drought Resilience of Zambia’s Agricultural Sector” project addresses this need by delivering a climate risk assessment tailored to Zambia’s Southern and Eastern Provinces, enabling targeted interventions that mitigate drought impacts, support agricultural resilience, and strengthen food security. The project addresses the impacts of drought on Zambia’s agricultural sector by conducting a detailed climate risk analysis using the Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) framework, using the CLIMADA modeling platform. Together, these tools enable quantification of current and projected climate risks and cost-benefit analyses of potential adaptation measures.

The project’s primary goals are centered on strengthening Zambia’s resilience to drought by fostering a science-based, collaborative approach to climate adaptation. It aims to assess current and projected drought risks while identifying viable, cost-effective adaptation measures that can be implemented to protect the agricultural sector and its dependents. Through partnerships with local experts, academia, and governmental stakeholders, the project will develop forward-looking adaptation strategies that are both practical and rooted in scientific analysis.

The project is complemented by capacity-building interventions. This initiative focuses on enhancing resilience and adaptation within the agricultural sector through comprehensive training and knowledge-sharing sessions. By collaborating with international experts, local stakeholders, and institutions, like government organizations, the project identifies key development needs related to climate risk management. The program will cover topics such as climate risk analytics and the Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) framework, delivered through a combination of virtual and in-person sessions. Emphasizing sustainability, the initiative aims to cultivate local expertise among researchers and academics, creating a knowledge hub for future replication in various sectors.

A crucial component of this initiative is the creation of a user-friendly online interface powered by Power BI, which will allow stakeholders to visualize climate risk data, evaluate adaptation options, and inform policy and strategic planning based on real-time insights. It provides the stakeholders with real-time access to project data, empowering them to make informed decisions and implement effective adaptation strategies long after the project’s completion. By integrating comprehensive climate risk assessments with robust stakeholder engagement, this project seeks to protect livelihoods and strengthen the foundation for sustainable agricultural development across Zambia’s most vulnerable regions.