Zambia

Our office: Lusaka
Our areas of focus: Governance, media development, sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexual and gender-based violence, and youth
Our partners: Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA), European Union, NDI, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, UNICEF

About our work

大象传媒 Media Action鈥檚 work in Zambia revolves around long-term mentorship of 40+ independent community radio and TV stations across the country including the national broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. Through five projects - Tikambe (Let鈥檚 Talk), Natwampane (Coming Together), Radio Waves, Voter鈥檚 Voice and Buumi Bwesu (Our Life) 鈥� we support partners to produce high-quality content on local and national issues, including corruption, land and resource management, education, government accountability and maternal and child health. This work also includes support for live debate shows, fact-checking and countering mis- & disinformation, investigative journalism, drama, public service announcements, and online and social media content.

In partnership with Restless Development, we work closely with young people, including through our popular Facebook page which engages young people in civic life, and through Tikambe (鈥楲et鈥檚 Talk鈥�) which supports media partners to produce educational programmes made by young people, for young people on sexual reproductive health and rights. This work is complemented by engaging digital outreach - including our popular page -- and vibrant roadshow events in diverse communities.

We launched Natwampane (Coming Together) in the country鈥檚 north in 2019, supporting 15 radio stations to produce shows tackling the high prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence in the region. All together, these projects reach over 2m people.

We are also working in Zambia with the Media Institute of Southern Africa and other partners on issues of media freedom and regulation, supporting the media sector's drive toward high editorial standards and codes of conduct while preserving its vibrancy and diversity.

Our projects in Zambia

Communities coming together to tackle gender-based violence in northern Zambia
We鈥檙e supporting local radio stations in northern Zambia to produce shows that improve understanding of, and discussion around, gender equality 鈥� with the aim of shifting norms around sexual and gender-based violence.
Strengthening community radio in Zambia
大象传媒 Media Action aims to strengthen the professionalism and sustainability of community and independent radio stations in Zambia through expert training.
Ishiwi - giving young people a voice in Zambia
A youth-led initiative combining discussion and media to help address the priorities of young people and help them to participate in local and national decision-making processes in Zambia.
Let鈥檚 talk about sex: improving sexual health for young people in Zambia
How a youth-led TV and radio show is helping young people in Zambia talk about sex, STIs and how to prevent HIV and AIDS.

Our insight and impact

Use our research library

Responding to Zambia's drought
To respond to the drought, we had to explore what was missing from the conversation, prioritising research and content on climate. Read the research summary here.
Supporting young Zambians to make sexual and reproductive health decisions
This briefing summarises evaluative research of phase three of the youth-focused Tikambe (Let鈥檚 Talk) project, which used media and interpersonal communication to reduce sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks among young Zambians.
Media and outreach that supports young people with sexual and reproductive health decisions
In Zambia the combination of media and outreach work delivered through the Tikambe project, with Restless Development, has been effective at improving young people's knowledge, discussion and practices towards realising their sexual and reproductive health rights.
How radio increases awareness of gender based violence in Zambia
We are supporting local stations in Zambia to produce weekly radio shows, covering gender equality themes. This research summary looks at findings from a midline study which found regular listeners reporting more progressive attitudes and less support for violence.
Research summary: Understanding norms that underpin sexual and gender based violence in northern Zambia
How 大象传媒 Media Action is supporting local radio stations in northern Zambia to produce gender-sensitive programming.
Case study: Radio Waves and Zambia Speaks! How support to local radio stations can empower social change
Read about our support to 15 local radio stations across Zambia and how they are covering local governance issues and improving government service delivering including education, sanitation and access to water - through radio programming.
My Media Action films: Boyd Chibale, Zambia
Elections in Zambia in September 2011 signalled a need for dialogue and openness. Boyd Chibale explains why he works for 大象传媒 Media Action in Zambia.

Past projects and resources

Zambia debates
In 2012-13 大象传媒 Media Action worked with radio stations in Zambia and the national television broadcaster ZNBC to update their production techniques and improve the quality of on-air debate.
Supporting Zambia's community radio to improve local services
From 2011 to 2013, 大象传媒 Media Action worked with community radio stations in Zambia to ensure local governments were held to account and that they improved local services and conditions.
Training Zambian journalists to cover all sides of the election story
In 2011, 大象传媒 Media Action's project in Zambia aimed to help journalists improve their skills and to encourage more balanced and fair election coverage.
Publications