Make Way Zambia

Name: Make Way
Telephone: +31

Zambia is a large, landlocked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods. The languages spoken in Zambia are English and several Bantu languages. Major dialects are Bemba (ChiBemba) 33%, Nyanja (Cinyanja) 15%, Tonga (Chitonga) 11% and Lozi 5.5%.[1]

Increasing population

Zambia is experiencing a sharp demographic shift and is one of the world’s youngest countries by median age. Its population, much of it urban, is estimated at about 18.9 million (2021). It is growing rapidly, at 2.9% per year, so is likely to double every 25 years. As Zambia’s large numbers of young people enter reproductive age, this increasing population will put even more pressure on the demand for jobs, healthcare and other social services in the future. [2]

Poor SRH outcomes for young women

Adolescents and young people aged 10–24 comprise about a third of the Zambian population. This group faces several challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 are disproportionately affected by poorer SRH outcomes.[3]

Make Way contributes to national SRHR programmes

The Make Way programme in Zambia focuses on improving SRH outcomes for the most minoritised young people and for those who face multiple vulnerabilities. Programme objectives are aligned to existing reproductive health policies and programmes in Zambia, aiming to contribute to these national efforts to reduce barriers to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) information and services.

Key interventions as part of the programme focus mainly on its five objectives. It further aims to build a movement of CSOs who should adopt the intersectional SRHR programmes. The Zambia consortium currently has 10 collaborating partners, and also works with three youth panels.

Five key objectives

To hold duty bearers accountable, so that they will strengthen health systems for increased access to SRHR services for minoritised groups.
To build the capacities of vulnerable youth in human rights, with an emphasis on SRHR.
To conduct and participate in lobby and advocacy activities which can improve the accessibility, availability, acceptability and quality of SRHR services for youth with compounded vulnerabilities.
To contribute to building coalitions of CSOs, as a way to benefit from existing platforms to promote social inclusion and access to intersectional SRHR for youth with compounded vulnerabilities.
To carry out capacity building activities for minoritised young people.

[1] https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/zambia.htm

[2] https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/zambia/overview

[3] https://www.unicef.org/zambia/reports/knowledge-and-use-sexual-reproductive-health-and-hiv-services