Zambia

The Carter Center works to advance human rights, free and fair elections, and the involvement of women and youth in Zambia’s democratic processes.

To address the challenges of climate change, the Center is empowering women to lead Zambia’s response to build resilience against emerging environmental challenges.

Impact

Building the capacity of the Zambian people to utilize human rights mechanisms to protect and promote an open and vibrant civil society.
Empowering women to lead in the fight against climate change.

Active

Human Rights

How it Started
Guided by President Carter’s “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power,” our current work advances President Carter’s legacy of fostering equality and respect for women as well as eliminating violence against them.

Our Work and Methods
Through our SheRise Women Advocates program, the Center offers financial and technical support to empower women environmental rights defenders in Zambia, enabling them to engage safely and effectively in activism that strengthens resilience and addresses climate change impacts at the local, regional, and global levels.

Active

Democracy

How it Started

The Carter Center began its work in Zambia observing elections in 1991, 2001, 2016, and 2021. We established a field presence in 2019 to pilot a participatory rights program and have worked with 19 women-, youth-, and community-led partners to increase the participation of women and youth in policymaking and election processes.

Our Work and Methods

We partner with local civil society and community-based organizations and leaders to advance their ability to influence citizen engagement in governance, increase the participation of women, youth, and other excluded constituencies in political affairs and decision making, and engage decision-makers and elected officials on related reforms.

Our Impact

500 civil society and community-based leaders trained in evidence-based advocacy for human rights

How it Started
Since 2019, The Carter Center has provided support to civil society organizations that advance the democratic participation of women and youth.

Our Work and Methods
Building on the Center’s previous experience observing elections in Zambia, as well as efforts to strengthen and support civil society organizations in other countries in the region, the Center provides technical and organizational assistance to organizations active in Lusaka and in other regions of the country.

How it Started
The Carter Center has monitored four elections in Zambia — 1991, 2001, 2016, and 2020 — partnering with international delegations from across the world. The Center declined an invitation to monitor elections in 2006, after concluding that elections in 2001 did not meet international standards. In subsequent election missions, we remained critical yet supportive of the country’s democratic process reforms.

Our Work and Methods
While elections in Zambia have routinely been marred by a lack of transparency, procedural complaints, and other issues, we have consistently supported credible reforms and inclusive democracy through election observation and civil society support. The Center continues to provide technical expertise and support to government and civil society organizations in Zambia, including visits by Carter Center Board of Trustees Director Jason Carter.

Our Impacts
4 election reports published alongside multiple international partners.

This project ended in 2022.

Related Tags

Conflict Resolution
Peace

Legacy

Improving Health

From 1986-1992, The Carter Center and Sasakawa Africa Association, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, shared seed and planting techniques with Zambian farmers. With fertilizer and seed credit, farmers tried new strains of maize, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, cowpeas, and millet. Farmers taught neighbors these technologies, creating a food security ripple effect by helping find local markets for surplus yields.