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The study examines cooking behaviours in urban Lusaka, Zambia, finding that dominant cooking cultures are reinforced by social interactions, national policy, and market accessibility. It identifies a mismatch between household perceptions, which view change as a complex result of 'softer' intertwined factors, and expert views, which prioritise 'harder' determinants like fuel price and availability.

The report details a series of Swedish-led dialogue forums in five countries aimed at integrating climate policies (NDCs) with sustainable development goals (SDGs). Common findings across the forums include a critical need for capacity building at local levels, the challenge of translating national policies into regional implementation, and the necessity of securing both international and domestic financing. While stakeholders generally recognized the synergies between NDCs and SDGs, concerns persisted regarding trade-offs between rapid industrialization and environmental sustainability. Country-specific insights highlight Vietnam's focus on integrated water management, Tanzania's debate on the economic costs of environmental degradation, Zambia's emphasis on research and solar potential, Cambodia's focus on inter-ministerial policy coherence, and Uganda's concerns over institutional silos and external financing dependencies.

The document examines three case studies to demonstrate the impact of capacity building for women in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. In Mongolia, the Sustainable Artisanal Mining (SAM) project combined government support with leadership and managerial training to help women formalize illegal operations and improve environmental rehabilitation. In Zambia, the Extractives Industry Transparency Alliance (EITA) utilized local civil society organizations to provide business and governance training to women in the extraction of development minerals. In Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Accountability and Artisanal Mining Program (ZAAMP) focused on strengthening the internal management and governance systems of miners' associations. The report concludes that for empowerment initiatives to be sustainable, they must involve governments as active partners, leverage local civil society organizations to ensure local ownership, and focus on leadership training to create a multiplier effect through associations.

The 2019 Lower Kafue River Basin Report Card assigns an overall health grade of 'C' (moderate) to the basin, indicating that while some indicators meet objectives, others do not. The assessment, developed by WARMA and WWF, highlights critical failures in human health and nutrition—specifically disease burden and sanitation—and declines in keystone species like the Kafue Lechwe. While economic indicators and water quantity generally performed better, the report identifies urgent needs for improved water quality data, climate-smart agriculture to combat malnutrition, and a comprehensive review of environmental flow releases from the Itezhi-tezhi and Kafue Gorge dams.

The research examines why households in Kenya and Zambia purchase advanced cookstoves and the factors that determine whether they consistently adopt them. While financial accessibility, fuel savings, and aspirational appeal drive initial purchases, long-term adoption depends on the stove's actual performance and the availability of technical support during the learning phase.

The author contends that Africa should actively influence the New Development Bank (NDB) during its early implementation to overcome the slow pace of traditional multilateral development bank financing. The NDB is highlighted for its agility, equal voting rights among founding members, and potential to lend in domestic currencies to mitigate exchange-rate risks. The paper emphasizes the role of the NDB's Africa Regional Centre in South Africa to address the shortage of bankable projects and suggests integrating poverty alleviation and women's empowerment indicators into project preparation.

The document argues that while affordability and aspirational appeal drive the initial purchase of advanced cookstoves, long-term adoption depends on the stove's performance and the availability of ongoing user support. Based on case studies in Kenya and Zambia, it highlights that shifting cooking habits is a complex behaviour change process requiring hands-on trials, clear manuals, and personal follow-up to prevent users from abandoning new technology in frustration.

This research paper examines the transition to advanced cookstoves in Kenya and Zambia, distinguishing between the motivations for initial purchase and the factors that ensure long-term adoption. While financial accessibility, fuel savings, and aesthetic appeal drive initial sales, the study finds that actual adoption depends on the stove's performance and the availability of post-purchase support. The authors recommend hands-on trials, high-quality manuals, and consistent fuel quality to prevent users from abandoning the technology.

The author reflects on Zambia's historical support for Southern African liberation movements and its use of a compulsory 'Civics' curriculum to pre-empt xenophobia from childhood. The text suggests that South Africa lacks a similar educational mechanism to teach citizens about the role other African countries played in its struggle, which contributes to recurring xenophobic violence. It recommends the creation of a Presidential Working Group on Xenophobia and calls for prominent African executives in South Africa to be more open about their origins to combat negative perceptions.

The document analyzes why the APRM process in Zambia has lost momentum despite early innovative practices. It identifies a lack of funding, poor coordination within civil society, and the disbandment of the civil society APRM Secretariat in 2011 as key drivers of this decline. The authors argue that the APRM has become dominated by the government post-review and is not central to Zambia's broader governance discourse. Recommendations include integrating the APRM into national development plans, increasing media coverage, and improving budgeting guidance from the continental APRM Secretariat.

The African Governance Architecture (AGA) was established in 2011 to address inefficiencies, duplication, and a 'democratic deficit' within the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs). It serves as a coordinating framework to align various treaty-monitoring bodies and norms—including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG)—to improve compliance and citizen engagement. The AGA operates through a Platform consisting of two concentric circles of AU organs and external stakeholders, organised into five thematic clusters. A key priority is the synergy between the AGA and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), leveraging the APRM's assessment tools while utilizing the AGA's link to binding treaty commitments. Despite milestones like the 2012 launch of the AGA Platform in Lusaka, the Secretariat faces challenges regarding inadequate human and financial resources.

The study examines the use of the traditional mbaula charcoal stove in Lusaka, Zambia, finding that while users are emotionally attached to the stove, they face significant financial burdens and health issues due to its inefficiency and fumes. The research highlights that cost is the primary driver of energy choices, and that poor households pay more for fuel due to cash-flow constraints. It proposes three main pathways for transformation: introducing locally-made, more efficient charcoal stoves that resemble the mbaula, promoting low-tech solar water heating, and restructuring electricity tariffs to make electric cooking affordable for the poor.

The relationship between Mozambique and Malawi has historically been marked by distrust, peaking during the second term of Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika. However, since President Joyce Banda took office in April 2012, relations have warmed, leading to the revival of critical infrastructure projects like the Interconnector Project and the Nacala Development Corridor. The document argues that mutual economic interdependency, particularly Malawi's need for sea access and energy security, provides a foundation for sustained stability.

The document examines the link between charcoal use for cooking and heating in Lusaka, Zambia, and the resulting climate risks, including loss of shade trees and increased water runoff. It suggests that reducing charcoal dependence through locally produced improved cookstoves, solar water heating, and electricity tariff restructuring for the poor can mitigate these risks and improve community adaptation to climate change.

The Zambia–China Cooperation Zone (ZCCZ), comprising the Chambishi and Lusaka East subsections, is China's first economic and trade co-operation zone in Africa. While it has attracted significant investment, primarily in copper smelting, the project faces critical implementation hurdles including poor surrounding infrastructure, a lack of regulatory frameworks for local content and technology transfer, and labour disputes stemming from differing work cultures. The document argues that for the ZCCZ to succeed, both Chinese investors and Zambian authorities must increase transparency and develop a cohesive industrial strategy that integrates local entrepreneurs.

The document examines the multifaceted relationship between China and Zambia, highlighting the risks of debt instability and opaque trade deals against the benefits of infrastructure investment and new export markets. It argues that while China provides a critical alternative source of financing, Zambia's lack of a comprehensive policy and weak regulatory framework make it vulnerable to 'bad practices' and unsustainable borrowing. The author recommends the implementation of a Debt Management Bill, a Freedom of Information Act, and the development of a formal national policy on China to ensure that economic cooperation leads to pro-poor growth.

The paper examines Chinese investment in Zambia's mining sector, noting that while Chinese firms often have poor labour and environmental records, they have rejuvenated inactive mines and maintained investment during global crises. It highlights that these issues are often systemic to the Zambian mining sector rather than exclusive to Chinese firms, and that anti-Chinese sentiment is frequently politicised by opposition leaders.

The document examines the failure of juvenile justice systems in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia to meet international standards, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It highlights contradictory legal definitions of childhood, the frequent detention of juveniles with adults, and a lack of dedicated child-friendly courts. The author recommends harmonizing legislation, abolishing corporal punishment, and investing in rehabilitative facilities and personnel training to shift the focus from retribution to reform.

The author contends that while increasing Eskom's electricity tariffs may cause short-term inflation, failing to do so will lead to chronic power shortages and rolling black-outs that will be more inflationary and disproportionately harm the poor. The text suggests that the current crisis stems from unsustainably low electricity prices and a failure to invest in infrastructure. To mitigate the impact on vulnerable populations, the author proposes targeted protections such as price discrimination and free basic energy, while urging the government to invest in job-intensive renewable energy sources, potentially funded by international carbon credits.

The document is a country fact sheet for Zambia, detailing its geography, population, governance, and natural resources. It notes a population of 11.1 million as of 2004, a GDP per capita of approximately US$380, and a parliamentary democracy with a legal system based on common law. Zambia's natural resources include copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, and hydropower.