PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
New York, 28.09.25 – The Zambian Government has showcased the remarkable success of the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) project as a cornerstone of its national strategy to combat poverty and gender inequality.
During a keynote address at a side event on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly on 26th September 2025, Ms. Mainga Kabika, Permanent Secretary at the Gender Division – GD, Office of the President, expressed profound gratitude to the World Bank and cooperating partners from Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ireland for their steadfast support. She described the partnership as a powerful testament to a shared commitment to social justice.
The project’s Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) component, a targeted cash-plus initiative, has delivered transformative results. An independent impact evaluation revealed that three years after receiving support, beneficiaries experienced a 30 percent reduction in extreme poverty, driven by a 62 percent increase in household income and an 80 percent rise in business profits.
Ms. Kabika noted that these statistics represent real families lifted out of destitution, children better nourished, and women gaining greater agency in their lives.
The event highlighted that the project’s success is a direct result of a collaborative model involving international partners, dedicated government teams, and traditional leaders. Zambia presented GEWEL as a valuable blueprint for other nations, proving that targeted interventions and strong partnerships can make significant progress in the fight against poverty and inequality.
Dr. Iffath Sharif, World Bank Global Director for Social Protection and Jobs, affirmed that Zambia’s GEWEL program demonstrates how social protection empowers people and lifts communities, especially as crises widen inequalities. She noted that combining cash support with training and access to capital unlocks lasting improvements and employment, underscoring the critical need to strengthen partnerships to scale these efforts.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations, stated that the empowerment of women and girls is a non-negotiable necessity for national development. He acknowledged the crucial support from partners for the GEWEL project, which is a key part of the national agenda under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.
Concluding the event, Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Chibamba Kanyama, highlighted that the GEWEL project is not just a success story but a proven, scalable model. He emphasized that it effectively links social protection, education, and livelihoods to create a cycle of progress and called for its replication.
Issued by:
Namatama Njekwa
First Secretary Press and Public Relations
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
