Zambia
IGC Zambia produces data, actionable research, strategy, and economic policy advice focusing on natural resource governance, public-sector effectiveness, agriculture and firm productivity, with a cross-cutting focus on climate adaptation and poverty reduction.
Featured content
![Zambia Economic Growth Forum 2024](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_image_large/public/2024-02/IGC_106_Digital%20Main%20Screen%20RGB%20%287m%20x%206m%29_v4_200dpi%20%28v3%29.jpg?h=5dadb242&itok=qwWWQ8e2)
Zambia Economic Growth Forum 2024
![A woman types at her laptop, working in an office.](/sites/default/files/styles/max_820x461/public/2024-02/Freepik%20DC%20Studio%202.jpg?h=e97e2ba8&itok=dB9HWiLx)
Unlocking the potential of Zambia's administrative data
![A landscape image of Zambia, featuring a blue sky and clouds, mountains, desert and grass.](/sites/default/files/styles/max_820x461/public/2024-02/Credits%20-%20Niels%20Mulder%205.jpeg?h=71976bb4&itok=2R0vmFwE)
Unlocking economic prosperity in the Zambian Copperbelt
![A woman cooking in a hut in Zambia. Credit: GCShutter/E+ via Getty Images](/sites/default/files/styles/max_820x461/public/2024-02/GettyImages-1154817319.jpg?h=a141e9ea&itok=EUFit_VH)
What constrains agricultural productivity in Zambia?
![A man surveys a pit with an engineering instrument](/sites/default/files/styles/max_820x461/public/2024-02/GettyImages-172282599%20%281%29.jpg?h=623f249a&itok=aCOT7Nb7)
Positioning Zambia for a copper-plus future
![Man walks on the top of fermentation box during coffee washing at the Mubuyu farm coffee factory in Zambia](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_image_small/public/2024-01/Harvest%20season%20of%20coffee%20farm%20in%20Zambia.jpg?h=03383d23&itok=GYlnG98b)
Zambia's pathways to growth
![Cover](/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-10/Nsomba%20and%20Roberts%20Final%20report%20October%202023_Page_01.jpg?itok=UPYk-elK)
Building competitive agricultural markets for Zambia: Unlocking export potential
![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_820x461/public/2018/06/Lusaka-Getty.jpg?h=2355bfdb&itok=bhQvLCZZ)
Zambia’s Constituency Development Fund: Policy considerations
![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_820x461/public/2021/07/GettyImages-1234589712-scaled-e1643284789119.jpg?h=d4fbfa27&itok=Y6xzgDy-)
Harnessing the power of electronic fiscal devices to increase VAT revenue in Zambia
![Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP via Getty Images.](/sites/default/files/styles/max_820x461/public/2022/02/GettyImages-458842416-scaled.jpg?h=0e55d2bf&itok=4lPTjt1d)
Informal settlements in Lusaka
About
As one of the youngest and most urbanised countries in Africa with large copper reserves, Zambia has experienced high levels of economic growth during surges in global commodity prices but has struggled to reduce poverty and inequality. The economy is dominated by mining and agriculture, but rapid urbanisation and the increasing services sector are driving structural transformation. Several structural problems constrain widespread prosperity including high public debt, dependence on a single commodity, periodic electricity crises, and low agricultural productivity.
Through a resident country program based in Lusaka, IGC supports Zambia's quest for sustainable and inclusive economic growth by working with the government on a range of policy priorities where data and economic research can support policy decisions. For example, IGC has supported improving the recruitment of community health workers, has measured the effects of power outages on firms, mapped informal settlements in Lusaka, has evaluated if electronic fiscal devices are effective in raising tax revenue, and has mapped over 40,000 businesses in Lusaka.
Presently, the IGC has engagements in improving the management of the mining sector, building a fair property taxation system, understanding constraints to agriculture productivity, evaluating and piloting reforms to the Constituency Development Fund, piloting a consumer incentive scheme to increase sales tax revenue, enhancing civil service performance, improving the role of data in policymaking, and supporting electricity sector reforms. Across these engagements, IGC focuses on supporting Zambia's transition to resilient, low-carbon and inclusive pathways to growth.
The cornerstone of IGC's work in Zambia is high-trust relationships with policymakers to co-produce relevant and rigorous research. IGC works with several government departments including the State House, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Local Government. IGC also supports economic development dialogue in Zambia, such as through the 2022 Economic Growth Forum.
Contact
Phone No.: +260774745243
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @IGC_Zambia
Address: AfricaWorks, 4 Bishops Road, Kabulonga, Lusaka, Zambia
Staff
Lwandamo Muwema
Zambia Office Administrator, International Growth Centre![Thandiwe Ngombe](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-12/Thandiwe-Ngombe.jpg?itok=wplnHlzb)
Thandiwe Ng'ombe
Country Economist, Zambia, International Growth Centre![Benjamin Shawa](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-12/Benjamin%20Shawa.png?itok=CB9s-1Dk)
Benjamin Shawa
Country Economist, Zambia, International Growth Centre![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022/06/Christian-Teschemacher_5564-e1665670054793.jpg?itok=fCzsV4Bt)
Christian Teschemacher
Project Economist, Zambia, International Growth Centre![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2018/12/Screenshot-2022-09-21-at-20.24.05.png?itok=WoXRVVMs)
Shahrukh Wani
Country Manager, Zambia, International Growth CentreFeatured researchers
![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2014/08/Nava-Ashraf.jpg?itok=aJ_1JboU)
Nava Ashraf
Professor of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2014/08/SGSB-0467-Kate_CaseyRT-web.jpg?itok=R83KkOHY)
Katherine E Casey
Professor of Political Economy, Stanford University![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2014/08/Kelsey-Jack.jpg?itok=JvK5kRiE)
Kelsey Jack
Associate Professor, University of California - Santa Barbara![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2020/07/EVh_JbRs_400x400.jpg?itok=s0JIbaME)
Brian Dillon
Assistant Professor, Cornell University![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2019/12/0-2.jpg?itok=U9RbIYqP)
Gilbert Siame
Director of the Centre for Urban Research and Planning, University of Zambia![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2017/03/Torsten-Walter-e1490622382205.jpg?itok=jkviD7ZB)
Torsten Figueiredo Walter
Assistant Professor of Economics, New York University Abu Dhabi![moneke-jm-portrait.jpeg](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/moneke-jm-portrait.jpeg?itok=RuF89q-n)
Niclas Moneke
Associate Professor, University of Oxford![Twivwe Siwale](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-01/k-5652.jpg?itok=RjOnuQSR)
Twivwe Siwale
Head of Tax for Growth Initiative, International Growth Centre![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2015/06/Simon-Roberts.jpg?itok=pCAU1mlI)
Simon Roberts
Visiting Professor of Economics, University of Johannesburg![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2014/08/Oriana-Bandiera1.jpg?itok=X-CIw5Ru)
Oriana Bandiera
Professor of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2014/08/m-williams-e1495619014707.jpg?itok=pU3C09QK)
Martin Williams
Associate Professor in Public Management, University of Oxford![Tolonen_Anja.jpeg](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/Tolonen_Anja_0.jpeg?itok=9l-yzF3_)