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Team Europe has signed agreements with three private companies to restore ecosystems and protect water catchments in Zambia’s Lower Kafue Sub-Catchment under the AWARE 2.0 project.
The European Union, Germany and Sweden, working with the Zambian government, announced the partnerships in Lusaka with Forest Africa Ltd, Nature’s Nectar and Zambian Breweries.
The initiative forms part of the Integrated Water Catchment Management and Landscape Protection in Zambia project, known as AWARE 2.0.
The Lower Kafue Sub-Catchment is one of the country’s most strategic water sources, supporting agriculture, energy production and domestic supply, particularly for the capital, Lusaka.
However, the catchment faces mounting environmental pressure from climate change, agricultural expansion, urbanisation and deforestation.
“This has resulted in significant land degradation, increased vulnerability to climate-related shocks such as droughts and floods and placing both livelihoods and economic productivity in the catchment at risk,” according to the statement.
Funded by the European Union, Germany and Sweden under the EU’s Green Nexus Programme and implemented by GIZ, AWARE 2.0 aims to address these challenges by promoting integrated approaches to ecosystem restoration and protection.
As part of the initiative, AWARE 2.0 is mobilising resources through integrated Development Partnerships with the Private Sector, known as iDPPs.
“These are cooperation agreements which bring together resources from the private sector and development cooperation to jointly promote the restoration and protection of ecosystems and provide alternative livelihoods and income opportunities for local communities,” the statement said.
The cooperation agreements follow a competitive call for proposals held last year.
Forest Africa will implement a programme on sustainable agroforestry and the wild fruit value chain in Monze and Mazabuka districts.
The intervention aims to ease pressure on ecosystems, promote the protection of indigenous trees, and create income opportunities for about 500 rural households, with women expected to make up at least 70 percent of participants.
Nature’s Nectar will roll out a sustainable beekeeping scheme in Central Province within the Lower Kafue Sub-Catchment. The project is expected to support at least 200 farmers—half of them women—while helping conserve about 2,000 hectares of forest through incentivised protection.
The partnership with Zambian Breweries seeks to scale up integrated landscape restoration models, including Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration, soil and water conservation, and community-led tree seedling nurseries.
“The partnership will strengthen regenerative agriculture practices, thereby improving ecosystem resilience, water security, and livelihoods for communities,” the statement said.
AWARE 2.0 said the collaborations highlight the role of coordinated action between government, cooperating partners and the private sector in delivering scalable solutions to Zambia’s environmental challenges.
According to the statement, the initiative contributes to improved livelihoods, enhanced climate resilience and the sustainable management of natural resources.
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