World Bank approves 32 mln USD to improve rural livelihoods in Zambia

The World Bank has approved 32.80 million U.S. dollars for Zambia to help the southern African nation improve rural livelihoods, reduce deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices, its Zambian office said on Wednesday.

The funds will be channeled to nine districts in the eastern part of the country and will support capacity-strengthening activities that will emphasize multi-sector coordination and transition to low carbon development.

According to the statement, the funds, approved last week, will benefit an estimated 214,955 people, with 30 percent being women.

"The project will create an enabling environment for Zambia to benefit from future emissions reduction payments, through a BioCarbon Fund," World Bank Country Manager for Zambia Ina Ruthenberg said.

According to her, the majority of people in eastern Zambia live in rural parts with their livelihoods dependent on agriculture and natural resources, a move that leads to unsustainable farming practices.

Ademola Braimoh, the bank's coordinator of climate smart agriculture for Africa region, said the project specifically targets adoption of climate-smart technologies by smallholder farmers, a move that will result in increased productivity and climate benefits from the technologies.

The funds, released under the Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape project, have been divided in three components, namely a 17 million dollars credit, a Global Environment Facility grant of 8.05 million dollars and a BioCarbon Fund grant of 7.75 million dollars. Endit