The World Bank recently approved a grant for Zambia totaling $208 million (approximately €193.7 million) as the country grapples with the devastating impact of drought in the region. Zambia’s Finance Ministry made the announcement of the grant on Tuesday. The severe drought in southern Africa has left millions of people in need of assistance.
The grant from the World Bank is intended to aid Lusaka in effectively responding to the impact of the drought. It will allow the government to provide direct cash transfers to more affected individuals and families. The amount given per household per month is expected to double from around $8.30 to $16.60. World Bank Executive Director Dr. Floribert Ngaruko stated that the objective of the grant is to protect the consumption of 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, partially 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 the livelihoods of millions of people, leading to countries like Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe declaring a state of disaster. The United Nations has described Zambia’s agricultural season as the “driest” in over 40 years, with over nine million people in 84 out of the country’s 117 districts being affected.