Administrator Power paid a visit to Good Nature Agro Company (GNA), one of Zambia’s major exporters and suppliers of legume seeds, on the second day of her trip there. The Administrator visited GNA’s seed warehouse and had a discussion about how private-sector partnerships support Zambia’s agriculture industry and help Zambia increase its regional exports to supply food for other African countries as the world experiences a severe food security crisis with staff and food security experts.
She referred to President Biden’s recent announcement that the United States is expanding Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global food security initiative, with Zambia as one of eight new target countries. She also mentioned that USAID will invest $9 million in Zambia to increase the efficient delivery of agricultural inputs to the most vulnerable farmers, including women farmers, stimulate investment in new sources of fertilizer, and engage the private sector to lower food prices. The Administrator also introduced TradeBoost, a brand-new $30 million trade and investment program in Zambia.
As a component of the U.S. government’s Prosper Africa initiative, the program is a part of USAID’s continental-wide Africa Trade and Investment program. Increased market intelligence, more investment in Zambian companies, and targeted trade facilitation support will all be provided by TradeBoost to help Zambian companies expand into regional and global markets. She also disclosed a $14 million, five-year project aimed at promoting Zambia’s economic growth.
After that, Administrator Power met with the ministers of agriculture and finance as well as the minister of national planning. They discussed solving macroeconomic problems and fostering an environment that would encourage more foreign investment in Zambia.
They talked about the ongoing food crisis that many African nations are currently experiencing and how the US and USAID can help Zambia increase agricultural output and increase food exports to the continent. By collaborating to increase the amount of arable land used by Zambian farmers, the Administrator expressed USAID’s willingness to assist Zambia meet its food needs and urged them to keep working to reform the Farmer Input Subsidy Program.
President Hakainde Hichilema and Administrator Power had a meeting at the State House later in the day. The two discussed the need to continue working quickly to enact significant reforms outlined by the New Dawn Administration, as well as working together on commitments to strengthen democracy, anti-corruption efforts, and rising food insecurity. Administrator Power emphasized USAID’s plans to support Zambia’s efforts to democratize and reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to assisting the government in providing real benefits for the people of Zambia.
The Administrator participated in a discussion on young people’s participation in civic activism in the evening with other youth leaders who had gathered at the University of Zambia. The young leaders discussed how they are promoting citizen-led accountability and engagement on issues that are important to them, such as gender equity and climate change.