Zambia

Though the pandemic affected much of Zambian life in 2020, no major natural disasters hit the country and the agricultural output increased significantly after 2019’s severe drought, which helped stabilize Zambians despite COVID-19’s impact. The disruptions of the pandemic included school closures that set kids’ educations back, healthcare system challenges with inadequate resources, and economic fallout that led to a recession. With poverty worsening in rural regions and straining families, issues of child protection became more severe: Child marriages and domestic abuse increased, especially as children stayed out of school during pandemic-related closures. Online learning was often not an option for kids in rural areas without internet infrastructure. Thanks to strong partnerships and programs, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable kids and families are receiving the right support. In response to the 2019 drought that created lingering effects, over 505,000 people benefited from seeds and food assistance to help them get through the season. Nearly 1.5 million people heard preventive messages during the pandemic’s peaks, and about 3 million people were reached with child protection awareness, especially on the dangers of child marriage. Over 700 schools were equipped with handwashing stations and materials.