The World Bank recently granted Zambia $208 million (approximately €193.7 million) to aid in its response to the devastating impact of drought in the region. The grant, announced by Zambia’s Finance Ministry on Tuesday, will allow the government to provide direct cash transfers to more affected individuals and families.
The severe drought in southern Africa has left millions of people in need of assistance, with the grant from the World Bank intended to help Lusaka effectively respond to the impact of the drought. The amount given per household per month is expected to double from around $8.30 to $16.60, providing much-needed relief for poor and vulnerable households in response to shocks in Zambia. It is estimated that over 1.6 million households across the 84 drought-impacted districts will receive cash assistance over a 12-month period through this grant.
Southern Africa is currently facing its worst drought in years, partly influenced by the El Nino climate phenomenon. This phenomenon is characterized by warmer sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator, leading to disruptive weather patterns globally. The increased average temperatures resulting from greenhouse gas emissions are also contributing to the severity of the drought. The impact of the drought has severely affected food production and livelihoods of millions of people, leading countries like Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe declaring a state of disaster. The United Nations has described Zambia’s agricultural season as “driest” in over 40 years with over nine million people being affected across 84 out of 117 districts.
