Zambia, located in southern Africa, was a British colony known as Northern Rhodesia. After decades of colonial rule, Zambia gained its independence in 1964.
Immediately after independence, Zambia faced a series of political and economic challenges. The country was led by President Kenneth Kaunda and his party, the United National Independence Party (UNIP), which sought to consolidate independence and implement development policies.
Over the following decades, Zambia encountered economic and political difficulties, including issues related to managing its vast copper reserves, which are an important source of income for the country.
Italian Cooperation has significantly contributed to Zambia’s development over the years. Between 1983 and 2009, more than 65 million euros were allocated in the form of donations. Italy is actively involved in multilateral initiatives, contributing 67.76 million euros to the XI European Development Fund between 2014 and 2020 and supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
In 2024, Zambia was classified as a priority country for Italy, which will result in the planning of new cooperation initiatives.
