Zambia

Copper has shaped Zambia’s economy for decades, contributing over 70 percent of foreign exchange earnings and around 17.5 percent of GDP. Today, demand for copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths is projected to nearly triple by 2030, creating a major opportunity for the country. But the challenge is whether this mineral wealth can translate into meaningful improvements in ordinary people’s lives. 

For many citizens and mining communities, the benefits of extraction have not yet matched the scale of the country’s resource wealth. Poverty and economic hardship remain widespread, with the 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS) estimating that about 60 percent of Zambians live below the poverty line. As global demand accelerates, there is growing urgency to ensure the next mineral boom delivers broader, more inclusive, and long-lasting public benefits, with minimal environmental impact.  

Decisions around governance, licensing, revenue management, local value addition, infrastructure, and community participation will shape Zambia’s long-term development trajectory. As the country navigates this critical moment, NRGI is partnering with government, private sector, civil society, media, and communities in Zambia to help drive more accountable and effective resource governance aligned to national priorities. Through evidence, analysis, peer learning, and advocacy, NRGI is working to strengthen approaches that can support local communities and industries, create decent jobs, and translate Zambia’s mineral wealth into prosperity for all Zambians.