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  • Publication | 2022

Zambia: Acute Food Insecurity Situation: July - September 2022 and Projection for October 2022 - March 2023

Global Food and Nutrition Security

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.