Zambia

Save the Children in Zambia

Since 1983 we have been working in Zambia to ensure all children are surviving, learning and protected.

Our health programmes focus on reducing under five mortality rates. We also work to increase access to quality education, with a focus on early childhood care and development. We support families, communities and the government to protect girls and boys from all forms of violence.

We also work to ensure that children in Zambia can participate in and influence government planning and budgeting processes.

In addition to our development programming, our humanitarian programmes respond to emergencies in Zambia, including the influx of refugees, droughts or floods. In partnership with other humanitarian organizations, we are at the forefront of providing education and child protection services for refugee children and their families in camps and settlements in Zambia, and emergency cash transfers to vulnerable households.

The situation for children in Zambia

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More than half of Zambia’s population of 16 million people are children under the age of 18. Zambia's children face significant challenges. More than half of the population is living in poverty, and this increases to over 76% in rural communities.

Children struggle to access quality healthcare and nutrition. And many lack access to quality education, with more than 65% of children in the second grade being unable read.

Girls are particularly vulnerable to child marriage and teenage pregnancy, with 59% of girls having a child by the age of 19.