Over 1.35 million Zambians (10% of the analysed population) are experiencing severe food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 - Crisis) between July and September 2022, due to high food prices and climatic shocks. This population requires urgent humanitarian action to reduce food gaps, protect and restore livelihoods, and prevent acute malnutrition.

The current vulnerability in Zambia has been driven by a high incidence of poverty, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, macroeconomic instability, and exposure to climatic shocks. This has resulted in an increase in food insecurity in the analysed districts primarily driven by these shocks such as prolonged dry spells, flooding, reduced livelihood opportunities due to restrictions linked to COVID-19, pests and diseases, and high input and food prices. Most of these shocks occurred during the flowering and grain filling periods for most staple crops between December 2021 and March 2022. Though the cost of maize has declined since the start of the 2022/2023 consumption year, they remain above the 5-year average.

1. Urgent action is required to save lives, reduce food consumption gaps and protect livelihoods for populations in districts categorised as being in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) by improving access to food through appropriate modalities for a household in deficit areas.
2. Income and Expenditure: Interventions that strengthen households’ economy and resilience are recommended to ensure households remain food and nutrition secure.
3. Nutrition Security: Ensure the nutrition situation is monitored and a follow-up SMART survey is conducted for districts exhibiting a high risk of malnutrition.
4. Livelihood resilience: Rural livelihoods are under a lot of pressure due to the consecutive poor rainfall seasons and high prices of inputs, forcing households to engage in negative coping strategies. Emphasis should be placed on rebuilding rural livelihoods through income diversification, strengthening household economy, and building productive community assets.