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In Northwestern Zambia (Mufumbwe, Kalumbila, Zambezi), COVID-19 and climate change disrupted rain-fed farming, threatening food security. SEPA supported 115 households, apportioning 4 ha per district for women farmers, providing solar-powered irrigation, CSA training, and financial literacy. Farmers grew high-value vegetables, accessed clean water, and sold surplus produce, improving income, nutrition, and gender equality. The project restored 12 ha, promoted agroecology, and created demonstration farms, showing that community-led, climate-smart interventions enhance food security, resilience, and sustainability.

Photo by Christos Zoumides

Background

Northwestern Province of Zambia, specifically Mufumbwe, Kalumbila, and Zambezi districts, faces compounded challenges from climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have significantly disrupted rain-fed smallholder farming systems. These disruptions have threatened household food security and nutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women-headed households, youth, and persons with disabilities. Prior to the project, communities relied heavily on subsistence agriculture and lacked access to irrigation, limiting the ability to grow high-value nutritious crops year-round. Water scarcity, exacerbated by prolonged droughts and insufficient infrastructure, forced households to depend on unsafe surface water sources, such as the crocodile-infested Kabompo River, exposing them to waterborne diseases and physical risks.

Socio-economic context further complicated the problem. Smallholder farmers had limited access to extension services, inputs, and markets, which constrained productivity and income generation. Gender disparities restricted women’s access to land, decision-making, and financial resources, undermining household resilience. The governance structure presented additional challenges; customary land allocation often favored men, and local administrative systems lacked mechanisms to support equitable land distribution and resource management for marginalized groups. Consequently, communities were vulnerable not only to environmental shocks but also to social inequities that inhibited effective adaptation to climate variability.

The intersection of these hydrological, environmental, and socio-economic factors created a cycle of vulnerability. Reduced crop yields due to erratic rainfall and droughts, combined with COVID-19-related disruptions in labor availability and market access, resulted in food insecurity, poor nutrition, and loss of income. Forest resources were increasingly overexploited for charcoal and timber, further degrading the environment and undermining long-term agricultural sustainability. These challenges highlighted the urgent need for interventions that integrate climate-smart agriculture, water resource management, and community empowerment, while addressing gender and social inclusion.

SEPA designed a project targeting 115 households across the three districts, with a focus on women farmers. Four hectares of land were apportioned per district for the establishment of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) demonstration farms. The project introduced solar-powered irrigation systems to ensure year-round cultivation of high-value vegetables and fruit trees, complemented by training in agroecology, pest management, post-harvest handling, financial literacy, and leadership. District-level stakeholder engagement, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Traditional Chiefs, and local authorities, ensured alignment with governance structures, strengthened oversight, and facilitated sustainable project implementation.

 

Actions taken

To address the twin challenges of COVID-19 and climate change on food and nutrition security in Northwestern Province of Zambia, SEPA implemented a Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) project targeting 115 households across Mufumbwe, Kalumbila, and Zambezi districts, prioritizing women-headed households. The project aimed to improve access to nutritious food, strengthen livelihoods, and promote sustainable land and water management. Objectives and activities were collaboratively defined by SEPA leadership, the Board of Directors, District Agriculture Coordinators (DACO), Traditional Chiefs, and community representatives to ensure inclusivity and local ownership.

District-level stakeholder meetings were conducted to raise awareness, identify partners, and define roles. The Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities, traditional leaders, and community members were consulted on project planning, beneficiary selection, land allocation, and irrigation site identification. Based on these consultations, 4 hectares of land per district were apportioned among women farmers for vegetable production using CSA methods.

Beneficiary mobilization formed Smallholder Farmer groups of 115 farmers (100 women, 15 men), including youth and persons with disabilities. Participants received training in leadership, record-keeping, financial literacy, group savings, and decision-making to ensure sustainable project management. SEPA procured solar-powered water pumps and overhead tanks to establish year-round irrigation, enabling continuous cultivation of high-nutrition vegetables, including tomatoes, cabbage, beans, pumpkin leaves, and onions.

Land preparation was conducted with beneficiaries apportioning plots for cultivation. Farmers received seeds, fruit tree seedlings, and training in agroecology, sustainable pest management, and post-harvest handling to reduce losses and improve yields. Community sensitization on nutrition and consumption of diverse crops was conducted to maximize health impacts. Market linkages were facilitated, enabling farmers to sell surplus produce, while solar vegetable dryers were provided for preservation. Group savings and financial literacy trainings promoted household economic resilience.

The project faced challenges including difficult terrain, transportation constraints, and borehole drilling failures due to hard soil and equipment breakdowns. SEPA addressed these by hiring reliable transport, subcontracting drilling to the Department of Water Affairs, and conducting multiple site surveys. Despite these obstacles, irrigation systems were successfully installed, and communities gained access to clean water for household and agricultural use.

Collaboration with government ministries, traditional leaders, and community structures ensured sustainability, enhanced technical capacity, and promoted scaling-up of climate-smart agriculture. By the end of the project, beneficiaries had adopted new farming technologies, improved gender-inclusive decision-making, increased household income, and enhanced food security. The participatory approach ensured ownership, long-term sustainability, and potential replication in other districts affected by climate change and COVID-19 disruptions.

Outcomes

The project directly benefited 115 households across Northwestern Province 35 in Mufumbwe, 40 in Kalumbila, and 40 in Zambezi addressing food insecurity exacerbated by COVID-19 and climate change. Forty women farmers received 4 hectares of the total 30 hectares apportioned for vegetable production, promoting gender equality in land access and agricultural decision-making. Using climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies, beneficiaries cultivated high-value crops, including tomatoes, cabbage, beans, leafy vegetables, and fruit trees (160 planted: 100 oranges, 50 lemons, 10 avocados), enhancing nutrition, household income, and environmental restoration.

The installation of a solar-powered irrigation system enabled year-round cultivation, ensured access to safe water for domestic use, and reduced reliance on the Kabompo River, eliminating risks of waterborne disease and crocodile attacks. Agroecology methods using tree leaves, animal waste, and organic compost improved soil fertility sustainably, promoting environmental protection and climate resilience. Smallholder farmer groups were formed, strengthening leadership, record-keeping, and cooperative management, particularly among women and youth.

Beneficiaries received training in sustainable agronomic practices, pest management, post-harvest handling, financial literacy, and group savings, improving farm productivity, income management, and resilience. The 1.5 hectares under active cultivation became a demonstration site for other farmers in the district, with knowledge-sharing facilitated through local agricultural extension officers and Nyilamba Agriculture Camp, creating long-term multiplier effects.

Stakeholder engagement was key. District agricultural officers, local authorities, and traditional leaders were actively involved in planning, oversight, and technical support, ensuring alignment with local governance structures and sustainability of interventions. Gender Action Learning (GAL) principles promoted joint decision-making, reducing gender-based violence, increasing women’s control over resources, and fostering community cohesion. COVID-19 restrictions initially limited gatherings, but adaptive approaches, such as staggered trainings and small group sessions, ensured continuity of activities while maintaining health protocols.

Immediate socio-economic impacts included improved household food security, surplus vegetable sales or barter, and income generation for basic needs. Communities gained ownership of 30 hectares of land, with 4 hectares actively cultivated, creating tangible asset control. The project also prevented premature deaths from unsafe water collection and reduced risks of malnutrition. Environmentally, the project enhanced biodiversity, restored degraded land, and promoted sustainable farming practices, including tree planting and soil enrichment using organic methods.

Challenges included difficult terrain, drought, and repeated borehole drilling failures, which were overcome by subcontracting specialized contractors, engaging the Department of Water Affairs, and hiring 4x4 vehicles for transport. These adaptive strategies demonstrated the importance of resilience, partnerships, and flexibility in overcoming socio-environmental and logistical barriers.

Long-term benefits include sustained agricultural productivity, improved livelihoods for 115 households, enhanced food and nutrition security, and increased adoption of CSA practices. The project has created a scalable and replicable model for other districts facing similar climate and pandemic-related challenges, demonstrating that community involvement, gender inclusion, stakeholder partnerships, and climate-smart interventions can achieve integrated environmental, social, and economic outcomes. Resources from GEF SGP, complemented by local contributions of land and community labor, ensured strong ownership, enabling ongoing maintenance and sustainability of benefits.

Lessons Learned

1. Community ownership drives sustainability – Involving women, youth, and traditional leaders ensured strong ownership, reduced resistance, and created a solid foundation for sustaining results beyond the project. 

2. Flexibility and adaptation are essential – Equipment breakdowns, failed boreholes, and drought required flexibility. Subcontracting and working with government experts helped overcome setbacks and ensured project delivery. 

3. Partnerships strengthen outcomes – Collaboration with government extension services, traditional leaders, and local cooperatives improved technical support, monitoring, and sustainability of interventions. 

4. Gender equality enhances productivity – Equal land access for women and joint decision-making under Gender Action Learning principles increased household income, reduced GBV, and promoted social cohesion.

5. Mindset change enables resilience – Farmers adopting CSA and agroecology practices shifted from subsistence to business-oriented farming, improving food security, incomes, and climate resilience.