Overview
The National Gender Policy (2023) is Zambia’s framework for achieving gender equity and equality across all sectors of development. It builds on the 2000 and 2014 policies and seeks to accelerate progress by addressing persistent gaps in access to resources, decision-making, education, and protection from gender-based violence (GBV). The Policy aligns with Zambia’s Vision 2030, the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and international commitments such as CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action, the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, and the Maputo Protocol.
Rationale
Despite progress in education, women’s participation in decision-making, and awareness of gender issues, inequalities remain pronounced. Women and girls still face barriers in land ownership, employment, access to finance, political representation, and protection from GBV and child marriage. Patriarchal norms, cultural practices, and weak coordination mechanisms have slowed progress. The 2023 Policy seeks to address these challenges through multi-sectoral and inclusive approaches.
Vision
“A nation with gender equity and equality in social, political, cultural and economic development.”
Guiding Principles
The Policy is underpinned by:
- Human Dignity and Social Justice – Upholding rights for all.
- Equity, Equality and Non-Discrimination – Eliminating gender-based barriers.
- Good Governance – Creating an enabling environment with affirmative action.
- Transparency and Accountability – Ensuring integrity in gender programming.
- Sustainability – Promoting long-term mechanisms for gender equality.
Key Policy Objectives
The Policy outlines 11 objectives with clear measures, including:
- Eliminate all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
- Increase equitable access to economic resources such as land, finance, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
- Reduce poverty among women and vulnerable groups.
- Enhance women’s participation in employment and eliminate workplace discrimination.
- Increase women’s role in governance and decision-making.
- Promote women’s participation in science, technology, transport, and infrastructure.
- Reduce gender disparities in education, especially in STEM.
- Improve access to gender-responsive healthcare and reproductive health services.
- Ensure clean water, sanitation, and hygiene access for women and girls.
- Address gender concerns in disability, HIV/AIDS, and climate change.
- Strengthen advocacy, coordination, and monitoring of gender programmes.
Implementation Framework
- Coordination: Led by the Gender Division at Cabinet Office, with support from a Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups comprising state and non-state actors.
- Institutional Roles: All ministries, provinces, local governments, private sector, civil society, traditional leaders, and academia must mainstream gender in their operations.
- Legal Support: Anchored in the Constitution (2016), Gender Equity and Equality Act (2015), Children’s Code Act (2022), Anti-GBV Act (2011), Employment Code Act (2019), among others. The Policy also calls for revisions of key laws to strengthen gender responsiveness.
- Resource Mobilisation: Financing will come from government budgets, cooperating partners, the private sector, and innovative funding sources.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: A National Gender Monitoring and Evaluation System (NGMES) will track progress and ensure accountability.
✅ In summary: The 2023 National Gender Policy is a roadmap for dismantling systemic barriers, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring equal opportunities for women, men, girls, and boys. It emphasises coordinated action across all sectors, stronger legal protections, and active involvement of communities, traditional leaders, and the private sector to achieve a gender-equal Zambia.
