Zambia
Region
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP, 2022)
154
Population (UNFPA, 2023)
20.6 milion

Volunteer statistics (ILO)*

Source: ILOSTATS. The data is collected by ILO from national statistical offices. As national statistics on volunteer work are produced using a variety of approaches and tools, direct and cross-country comparisons are not recommended. For more information, visit https://ilostat.ilo.org/topics/volunteer-work/

No data

Measurement work

No data

Laws, Policies, Schemes on Volunteering

Does the country have a piece of legislation on volunteering?

No data

Does the country have a national policy, scheme, plan or strategy specific to volunteering?

Yes

Name of specific policy, strategy or plan on volunteering at the national level. Year created Source link What are the relevant SDG areas/crosscutting themes of the policy, plan scheme or strategy?

National Volunteer Policy

2022 View source

Does the country have a sectoral and cross-sectoral policy, scheme, plan or strategy that mentions volunteering?

Yes

Name of specific policy, strategy or plan on volunteering at the national level. Year created Source link What are the relevant SDG areas/crosscutting themes of the policy, plan scheme or strategy?
7th National Development Plan 2017 View source

VNR Reporting

Zambia Sustainable Development Goals Voluntary National Review 2020

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Reporting positive contribution of volunteering to the SDGs

Paragraph 1, page 2

CSOs, including the youth, were actively involved in the SDG awareness campaigns. In this respect, CSOs identified SDG targets that related to their mandate and contributed in raising awareness for specific SDGs. For instance, the Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia, in partnership with UN agencies in Zambia particularly United Nations Volunteers, United Nations Fund for Population Activities and United Nations Development Programme organised a National Youth Conference under the theme "Engaging the Youth in Monitoring and Accountability of the Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs for a Sustainable Zambia”. The conference attracted over 200 youth from all the 10 provinces.

No mention

Zambia's Voluntary National Review 2023

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Reporting positive contribution of volunteering to the SDGs

Paragraph 1, page 6

To enhance health service delivery and improve the client-to-health personnel ratio, in 2021 the Government recruited over 11,000 additional health personnel to complement the already existing numbers in the sector. In line with the Community Health Strategy of 2017, the Government has continued to increase access to quality health services through the introduction of the Volunteer cadre known as Community Welfare Assistants Committees. Arising from this measure, it is expected that the client-to-health personnel ratio will respectively reduce to: 3,500 from 6,750 persons per doctor; 3,000 from 4,600 persons per clinical officer; and 500 from 750 persons per nurse/midwife, in 2026 compared to 2020, respectively.

Paragraph 2, page 114

VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN VARIOUS SECTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SDGS By UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS AND MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Service delivery in Zambia has mainly been supported with the help of Volunteers in various sectors. For instance, in the Ministry of Health (MoH) it has been found to be essential to ensure effective and efficient community health service delivery through frontline health workers in the formal setting who collaborate with the informal setting of voluntary support. The engagement of volunteers in the sector resulted in the MoH coming up with the Community Health Strategy (CHS). The CHS is laid out to strengthen the operationality and functionality of their relationships and facilitate quality and sufficient community healthcare thereby contributing to Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being. In a study conducted on the Volunteers’ contributions to the achievement of the SDGs in Zambia, the findings indicated that Volunteers’ contributions have a bearing across all the 17 SDGs in different sectors. The Volunteers also exist in most government ministries and civil society organisations (CSOs), assisting in service delivery. There is, however, a limitation to ascertain or quantify the actual Volunteer contributions in the absence of in-depth studies and the lack of documentation in local voluntary CSOs. The World Health Organisation recognises poverty as one of the social determinants of health, and the Volunteers who work on social welfare and support Social Cash Transfer (SCT) implementation through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) and primary healthcare programmes under the health sector, are not only contributing to SDG 1 but to SGD 3 as well. In the health sector for instance, it has been long appreciated that the scarcity in human resources of health workers experienced at every service delivery level, including at community outreach interventions, poses a challenge requiring concerted efforts through community engagement. The MoH has recognised the shortages of human resources in service delivery of quality healthcare being critical to the provision of services. The Volunteer cadre known as Community Welfare Assistants Committees (CWACs) under the MCDSS are involved in many programmes, among them community case management and the 1st 1,000 Days under the SCT, piloted in selected districts. The 1st 1,000 Days is a nutrition programme meant to support parents/families as they embark on the journey of raising their children. The contributions made by the Volunteers under the SCT and social welfare and health-related programmes have been immense with about 90,006 Volunteers working under health and 87,750 volunteers for the various programmes under MCDSS. The SCT was initially implemented on a pilot basis in Kalomo District in August 2003. Twenty years down the line, the programme has spread to 116 districts with over 1 million beneficiaries. The increase in beneficiaries exerted pressure on the public service workers who were implementing, but CWACs have been filling the gap as Volunteers.

Paragraph 1, page 114

Service delivery in Zambia has mainly been supported with the help of Volunteers in various sectors. For instance, in the Ministry of Health (MoH) it has been found to be essential to ensure effective and efficient community health service delivery through frontline health workers in the formal setting who collaborate with the informal setting of voluntary support. The engagement of volunteers in the sector resulted in the MoH coming up with the Community Health Strategy (CHS).

UNSDCF Reporting

Zambia Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027

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Volunteering integrated into the narrative text of the UNSDCF


Volunteering integrated into the UNSDCF Results and Reporting Framework


Volunteering integrated in relation to gender equality and/or women’s empowerment

Paragraph 1, page 11

The UN will complement Zambia’s economic reforms agenda by strengthening the capacities of state and non-state actors to design, implement and monitor coherent and inclusive policies, laws, strategies, and programmes, including to prevent and respond to risks and harms that may result from economic activity in key sectors such as the extractives industry. With its comparative advantage, the UN stands to assist the Government to apply the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, advocate for corporate social responsibility and advance interventions that foster innovative pathways to growth that promote the attainment of a diversified and industrialised economy, competitive private sector, and enhanced citizenry participation in the economy. This will be driven by fostering sustainable decent employment, volunteer opportunities, increased contribution of remittances to GDP, enhanced entrepreneurship opportunities, and promotion of green growth, in line with the government’s priorities, leaving no one behind, particularly women, youth, the displaced and stateless as well as the marginalized and vulnerable. 

Paragraph 2, page 13

The principal partners in achieving Prosperity-related SDGs will include Government MDAs, trade unions (workers’ organisations), employers’ organisations, civil society organisations, volunteer-involving organisations, academia, the private sector, benefitting communities and Cooperation Partners (bilateral and multilateral donors). ...In addition, the UN will also support public and private sector collaboration and partners that facilitate the creation of decent livelihood opportunities such as volunteerism, internships, apprenticeships, and graduate programmes to increase employability, particularly among young women and PwDs. 

Paragraph 1, page 54

Output Indicator 1.1.4. Number of youth volunteers/interns/apprentices/fellows on placement to support SDGs by sex.
Output Indicator 3.2.2. Number of civil society organisations and youth volunteer associations engaged to promote peace, strengthen citizen participation in democratic processes and human rights.  

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