LUSAKA, Zambia, October 10, 2025 — Concessional financing from the African Development Fund (ADF) has transformed Zambia’s agriculture and education sectors, anchoring peace, prosperity, and regional competitiveness.
ADF deputies, gathered in Zambia’s capital for the Fund’s 17th replenishment meeting, visited two project sites on October 7 — the NCZ fertilizer plant and University of Zambia.
Government ministers commended the Fund for tangible impacts, highlighting how ADF investments are reshaping agriculture, education, and economic growth across the country, particularly in strategic national development initiatives.
The African Development Fund, part of the African Development Bank Group, supports 37 low-income countries, nearly half fragile or conflict-affected, and plays a leading role in Africa’s development.
Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri called the African Development Bank Group a critical ally, supporting Zambia’s shift from drought to surplus, with investments beyond financial assistance.
He described the new blending and granulating facilities as “not merely financial but an investment in our farmers, in our economy, and in our future,” emphasizing strategic growth.
“This achievement represents a significant leap forward in our capacity to meet the fertilizer requirements of the Zambian farming community,” Phiri said, highlighting long-term domestic and export benefits.
“Beyond serving domestic needs, Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia is positioning itself to penetrate export markets between 2025 and 2030,” the minister stated, stressing Zambia’s competitive role in regional fertilizer production.
Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted Zambia’s record food production: “In 2024/25, Zambia produced over 3.7 million metric tons of food.”
“That’s well above its national need of 2.5 million. That’s not just food security, that’s food surplus,” she added, emphasizing the Fund’s transformative agricultural impact.
The Zambia Emergency Food Production initiative has supported nearly 5,900 farmers, over half women, with subsidized certified seeds and fertilizer via the digital platform ZIAMIS (http://apo-opa.co/4h72ZD9).
Over 9,000 farmers are expected to benefit from approximately $35 million in financing this season, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices and greater national food security.
A critical $1.3 million injection from ADF is setting Zambia toward fertilizer self-sufficiency, reducing costs by 40% and providing smallholder farmers with essential raw materials.
At the University of Zambia, Vice Chancellor Professor Mundia Muya emphasized the impact of the Support to Science and Technology Education Project, funded by the African Development Fund.
“The University of Zambia has benefited immensely from our collaboration with the African Development Fund,” Muya said, noting that lecture theatres and laboratories have now been fully modernised.
“They provide a conducive environment for learning and research,” Muya added, highlighting the transformative effect on student learning, academic innovation, and higher education quality.
Minister of Technology and Science Felix Chipota Mutati highlighted the broader significance of ADF investments, which expanded tertiary and technical education access to 250,000 students nationwide.
“When you are being lectured in a conducive environment, even your brain power becomes transformative,” Mutati said, underlining the social benefits of peace, harmony, and democratic growth.
Ms Akin-Olugbade framed the Zambia Emergency Food Production Facility within the Africa Emergency Food Production Facility, supporting 20 million farmers and targeting 37 million tons of food continent-wide.
“While it was launched in response to a crisis, the Zambia Emergency Food Production Facility is about more than emergency relief,” she explained, emphasizing long-term agricultural resilience.
“It is laying the foundation for a more resilient, private sector–driven agricultural system—reducing import dependence and empowering Zambian farmers to feed the nation,” Akin-Olugbade said.
The ADF-17 replenishment meeting took place in Lusaka from October 7 to 9, 2025, ahead of a final pledging session scheduled for December 2025, reinforcing development commitments.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media contact: Emeka Anuforo, Communication and External Relations Department; [email protected].
African Development Bank Group (AfDB) comprises AfDB, ADF, and NTF, operating in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, advancing economic and social development.
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