PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
New York, 16 April 2026 – Zambia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action while underscoring the strategic importance of multilateral engagement at the 59th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) at the United Nations Headquarters.
The ICPD programme of action prioritises human rights, social justice, the empowerment of women, and the empowerment of youth.
Delivering Zambia’s National Statement, Ms. Stenah Shampile, Chargé D’Affaires at the Mission of Zambia, emphasised that technology, research, and data are powerful tools for advancing human dignity and sustainable development, noting that Zambia’s active participation in global platforms strengthens cooperation, fosters strategic partnerships, and promotes the exchange of evidence-based solutions.
Ms. Shampile highlighted Zambia’s notable progress in sexual and reproductive health, stating that the demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods has risen from 19.6 percent in 1992 to 73.9 percent in 2024, while skilled birth attendance has nearly doubled to 94 percent and facility-based deliveries increased to 93 percent. This reflects Government’s continued prioritisation of universal health coverage and equitable access to quality services.
She underscored Zambia’s adoption of innovative, geo-referenced and gender-responsive Carrying Capacity Assessments (CCA), which map social services across all 116 districts and integrate population data with gender analysis to strengthen coordination, financing, and inclusive service delivery and described it as evidence-based planning in action.
Meanwhile, Ms. Shampile acknowledged persistent challenges, including an adolescent childbearing rate of 28 percent and maternal mortality accounting for 10 percent of deaths among women of reproductive age. She reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to accelerating progress through expanded voluntary family planning and strengthened adolescent-responsive programmes to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health.
On digital transformation, she highlighted Zambia’s commitment to integrating ICT across all levels of education under the Ministry of Education’s 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, with digital platforms and e-learning tools increasingly reaching rural and underserved communities, enhancing digital literacy and expanding young people’s access to critical reproductive health information.
She concluded that participation in global forums enables Zambia to showcase progress, learn from shared experiences, and mobilise support to bridge the digital divide, while reaffirming the country’s dedication to South-South cooperation in research and innovation, ensuring that development gains reach the most vulnerable, particularly women, girls, and young people.
Ms. Shampile was joined by Ms. Pamela Kauseni, Director – Population Department at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and other senior government officials.
The Commission opened on 13th April and runs up to 17th April 2026 under the theme, “Population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development.
Issued by:
Namatama Njekwa
First Secretary – Press and Public Relations
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia
