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The World Bank is expanding support for Zambia’s watershed management and forest conservation, approving the second phase of the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD II) project.
The initiative aims to improve sustainable management of more than 680,000 hectares of land and enhance livelihood resilience for over 650,000 people in vulnerable communities of Zambia’s Miombo ecoregion.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia, Achim Fock, said TRALARD II represents $137 million in investments and builds on the successes of the first TRALARD phase.
He noted that the project will help the government expand efforts to address highly vulnerable regions, including Southern Province, by promoting climate-resilient livelihoods and supporting green jobs in priority sectors.
“TRALARD II is a powerful example of how climate action can be community-driven and inclusive. By investing in climate-smart agriculture, restoring degraded landscapes, and modernizing hydromet services, it will help Zambian communities enhance resilience to climate change,” Fock stated.
He explained that the project also promoted sustainable rural economic activities with a focus on strengthening value chains and market access to foster livelihoods that reduce pressure on natural resources.
“TRALARD II will also contribute to government efforts to improve participatory land-use and water resource planning, weather monitoring and forecasting, and enhancing the quality and reliability of meteorological data to support timely and accurate climate forecasts,” Fock added.
He said the project will support strengthening institutional and technical capacities within the Zambia Meteorological Department and other relevant institutions, while also working with communities to protect existing forest reserves and establish new Community Forest Management Groups.
“A new jurisdictional Emission Reduction Program will also be developed to strengthen Zambia’s capacity to participate in carbon markets and generate additional resources that can be reinvested in landscapes to improve rural livelihoods,” he said.
World Bank Senior Environmental Finance Specialist, Elisson Wright, emphasized that TRALARD II reflected the Bank’s commitment to support Zambia’s climate agenda through inclusive, community-driven solutions.
“TRALARD II deploys a whole-of-society approach to promote socioeconomic development needs of local communities and nature-based solutions within the broader landscape by integrating ecological, social, and economic factors. This approach helps protect ecosystems and create economic opportunities for rural communities,” Wright stated.
The project financing includes a $100 million International Development Association (IDA) grant.
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