Zambia’s Lower Kafue Basin is one of the country’s most vital landscapes. Part of the country’s vast Kafue catchment is a lifeline for animal, aquatic and agricultural food systems, water security, diverse rural livelihoods and biodiversity. Yet today, this basin faces mounting pressures: land degradation, pollution threats, unsustainable resource use and weak governance. These challenges not only strain ecosystems but also threaten the resilience of food systems and the communities that depend on them.
To tackle these complex issues, CGIAR research centers, including the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), WorldFish, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Alliance Biodiversity International — CIAT supported the Lower Kafue Basin Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP). Born under the CGIAR Initiative on Aquatic Foods, this platform was supported in 2025 through the Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Program, which further emphasized the need for integrated, cross-sectoral solutions rooted in local realities.
The multi-stakeholder platform brings together diverse voices from traditional leaders, private sector representatives and policymakers, to farmers, fisherfolk and researchers. The platform co-creates sustainable food and climate solutions by turning scientific knowledge into locally relevant tools that farmers can use and scale. This approach is aligned with Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan, which prioritizes integrated and inclusive systems to drive sustainability.
The platform has proven its value in addressing pressing issues, such as the mining pollution incident in the Kafue River on February 18, 2025. When the incident was reported, the platform’s stakeholders — who previously operated in silos — came together to discuss the impacts on the basin. The platform worked with local leaders to channel information to communities, coordinated a joint statement to policymakers, and reached consensus on actions to address pollution and its potential impacts on livelihoods and ecosystems.
Pathways for policy and practice
Sustaining progress in the Lower Kafue Basin requires a holistic approach that links science, governance and finance.
“Let us bring together cultural values, innovation and local leadership to protect our basin and livelihoods,” said Chief Nalubamba of the Namwala Chiefdom. His call reflects the urgent priorities the multi-stakeholder platform dialogues identified to guide transformation in the Lower Kafue Basin and ensure food system resilience.
Achieving this vision involves ensuring that scientific research informs actionable solutions. For example, innovative approaches such as IWMI’s Rapid Game Design activities helped communities apply science concepts to real-life situations. Participants were able to translate complex knowledge into practical actions that respond to local realities, such as conflicts over water user rights among sugar producers, electricity generation and fisheries actors.
Equally important is inclusive and participatory governance. By recognizing the roles of women, youth and traditional leaders, the platform ensured that community voices shape decisions. The MSP has steadily encouraged women and youth participation in decision-making processes, leading to community interventions that use data to guide sustainable and effective natural resource management in the basin.
Finally, sustainable financing and market linkages provide the foundation for scaling solutions. Blended finance — combining donor contributions with private investment — can expand access to capital for farmers and fisheries producers. This is the direction the multi-stakeholder platform is taking, envisaging activities such as aquafeed production and livestock aquaculture integration, while building resilient value chains that help smallholders.
The story of the Lower Kafue Basin is not only about the challenges it faces, but also about the solutions that emerge when science, policy and community voices come together. The multi-stakeholder platform demonstrates that when knowledge is translated into practice, governance is inclusive, and financing is sustainable, agrifood systems can become more resilient and equitable.
