The United States Government has announced its intention to provide $66.8 million to Zambia to address the current drought, strengthen food security, and build resilience in the country across a variety of sectors.
In a statement through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator, Isobel Coleman made the announcement on Thursday.
The Agency disclosed that Zambia’s crippling drought has caused crop losses between 60 and 95 percent across vast swathes of the country, triggering an 83 percent surge in maize prices.
According to the Agency, “USAID will provide $20 million in urgent humanitarian aid via implementing partners as an immediate response to severe drought afflicting Zambia, complementing USAID’s existing $9.5 million food security assistance in the country to drive inclusive, long term agricultural-led economic growth.
Adding, “Working with Congress, USAID also plans to invest an additional $5 million to increase the long term food security of Zambia to strengthen its agricultural productivity, improve nutrition, and help producers manage future shocks”.
The Agency stated that despite these immense challenges, smallholder farmers are demonstrating incredible resilience, continuing to produce food for their families and communities. 
It revealed that this Humanitarian assistance will help the farmers, providing food, market- based assistance, agricultural assistance to over 460,000 people in Zambia affected by the drought.
“For over a decade, Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global food security initiative, has been a champion in the fight against hunger, poverty, and malnutrition, working to build sustainable and resilient food systems.
“USAID is leading an effort called Feed the Future Accelerator to areas of both high need and tremendous opportunity. Zambia, with its committed government, dynamic private sector, and high potential for agric-led growth, is at the forefront of this effort.
“In collaboration with partner countries, Feed the Future Accelerator will drive inclusive agricultural transformation while also contributing to regional trade and market linkages, supporting the development of a regional breadbasket”, the Agency said. 
In support of these efforts to fight hunger, on Thursday, the USAID and the Zambian govt unveiled collaborative Global Food Security Strategy, which recognizes the undeniable link between food security and external shocks like conflicts, trade disruptions, or extreme weather events.
Adding that the strategy focuses on investments in drought-tolerant seeds, improved water management practices, and advanced weather forecasting.
“Incorporating such global best practices will expand market-led solutions to strengthen food systems and drive private agricultural sector growth, putting financial, digital, and productive tools into the hands of Zambian entrepreneurs”.
It stated further that these measures aim to mitigate future risks and reduce the need for emergency assistance in the future, fostering long-term progress. “In addition to funding to support Zambia as it responds to the current drought, while intend to provide $32.3 million to continue to build resilience across various sectors in Zambia.
It said that $11 million will go towards ongoing activities that support resilience, and $9.3 million will support new and ongoing water, sanitation, and hygiene programming.
“Macroeconomic stability also builds resilience, and $8.5 million was announced to help create the policy space to respond to and recover from shocks, and to support a policy environment that fuels job and income-generating business, trade, and investment”.
Finally, recognizing the role that good governance plays in a resilient society, the USAID intended to provide $3.5 million to support public financial management reform priorities and domestic revenue mobilization.
