Background
Zambia’s food systems are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, with severe droughts and floods becoming more frequent and intense. According to the latest IPC analysis (October 2024 – March 2025), approximately 5.8 million people (33% of the analysed population) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Farmers adopting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices have experienced 20% higher crop yields, yet adoption remains limited. The national discourse on climate change has been heavily dominated by adaptation measures in response to these shocks. However, the language of proactive risk mitigation remains minimal. A primary focus for building resilience has been on improving access to water, particularly through irrigation expansion. Concurrently, as the national power grid falters, interest in off-grid energy solutions for agriculture is growing. Major initiatives such as the USD 10 million MASAP II (2025-2029) are now empowering smallholders against climate shocks through index-based crop insurance and support for climate-resilient crops.
Where we see opportunities to change PPII
The urgent need to build resilience against climate shocks creates opportunities for significant shifts in investment and policy. The emerging narrative on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) needs to be strengthened and translated into actionable, scalable strategies. This involves moving beyond a sole focus on on-farm adaptation (like irrigation) to include landscape-level approaches and robust risk mitigation instruments. There is a clear opportunity to diversify financing for resilient infrastructure, blending public investment with private capital for solutions like off-grid solar-powered irrigation and cold storage. Policies and regulations can be updated to incentivize climate-smart practices and de-risk investment in resilient technologies for smallholders, ultimately building a food system that can withstand and recover from climate-induced shocks.
Profiles of Fellows for Resilient Food Systems
Fellows in this impact area are leaders in the drive to build a climate-resilient food system. They are practitioners working at the intersection of agriculture, water, and energy. This includes experts in climate-smart irrigation, integrated water resource management, and the deployment of off-grid energy solutions for agricultural productivity and value chain efficiency. P They also include innovators in climate risk financing, early warning systems, and drought-resistant value chains, all focused on shifting the paradigm from reactive adaptation to proactive, systemic resilience. Lastly, leaders working at the intersection of biodiversity and conservation, including advocates, technical experts and farmers practicing conservation agriculture will be critical in creating impact in this area.
IMPACT AREAS
Inclusive Markets and Trade
The African Food Fellowship supports leaders dismantling the barriers that exclude women, youth, and smallholders from Zambia's agricultural markets. Fellows are building inclusive business models, advocating for equitable land and financing policies, and forging partnerships across value chains — shifting Zambia's food economy from subsistence to sustainable, shared prosperity.
Resilient Food Systems
The African Food Fellowship supports food systems leaders tackling Zambia's growing climate vulnerability. With millions facing acute food insecurity and droughts intensifying, Fellows are driving the shift from reactive adaptation to proactive resilience — through climate-smart irrigation, off-grid energy solutions, and innovative risk financing for smallholders.
Access to Nutritious and Healthy Foods
The African Food Fellowship supports leaders working to make healthy, nutritious diets accessible to all Zambians. From school feeding programmes sourcing from local smallholders to urban food policies tackling the rise of diet-related NCDs, Fellows are bridging the gap between agriculture, health, and education to address Zambia's dual burden of malnutrition.
