The Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has voiced strong concern over the recent decision by the United States to reduce development aid to Zambia, warning that the move could have dire consequences for women and girls across the country.
NGOCC Executive Director Anne Anamela said the funding cuts pose a direct threat to crucial progress made in sectors like reproductive health, girls’ education, and women’s economic empowerment. She was speaking at a symposium on global geopolitical shifts held in Ndola, where experts gathered to explore Zambia’s strategic position in an evolving international landscape.
“Foreign aid has been a cornerstone of many gender-focused programmes in Zambia,” Ms Anamela said. “This sudden reduction in support could compromise access to maternal healthcare, family planning services, and income-generating opportunities for women, particularly in rural communities.”
She emphasized that Zambia’s gender equality agenda remains heavily reliant on international assistance, and any disruption in that pipeline places vulnerable populations at increased risk. Ms Anamela also highlighted the broader impact on civil society, noting that the country’s fragile network of non-governmental organisations could be further strained by dwindling resources.
The symposium, themed “Zambia in a Shifting World Order: Strategic Responses to Global Geopolitical Reconfiguration,” was organised by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Also speaking at the event was International Relations Expert Lazarous Kapambwe, who urged Zambia to rethink its foreign policy priorities. He called for a more strategic, interest-driven diplomatic approach that places greater emphasis on trade, investment, and regional partnerships.
“As the global balance of power shifts, Zambia must reposition itself not as a passive recipient of aid, but as an active player capable of leveraging its strengths in agriculture, minerals, and human capital,” Kapambwe noted.
The call for strategic realignment comes at a time when many African nations are reassessing their international alliances and funding models amid rising geopolitical competition and declining donor predictability.
As Zambia grapples with these global changes, voices like those of the NGOCC are reminding stakeholders that policies shaped in distant capitals have real and lasting effects on everyday lives—especially for the country’s most marginalized women and girls.