Education in Zambia
Partner since:
Total grant support: US$152,956,109
Grant eligibility:
- Multiplier
- System capacity
- System transformation
Partnership compact
Coordinating agency: European Union
GPE Team lead: Daisuke Kanazawa
Partner since:
Total grant support: US$152,956,109
Grant eligibility:
Partnership compact
Coordinating agency: European Union
GPE Team lead: Daisuke Kanazawa
Zambia has some of the lowest learning levels in the world. In 2021, only 4% of grade 2 students could read at grade level, which declined 10% from 2018.
While 88% of children attend primary school, they are not developing basic skills, and there are disparities in access to education related to geographic location, gender and disability.
The government is working with GPE and other partners to enhance inclusive quality teaching and learning at pre-primary and early primary levels.
Zambia’s Partnership Compact describes plans for a holistic and transformative approach to education reform, where every student can thrive in a supportive and quality learning environment.
out-of-school rate for children of lower-secondary school age
of government expenditure on education
(data as of December 11, 2025)
Type: System transformation
Years: 2025 - 2028
Allocation: US$12,620,000
Utilization: 0
Grant agent: Save the Children US
Reduce learning poverty from 98.5% to 90% by 2028 by:
Type: System capacity
Years: 2025 - 2027
Allocation: US$1,550,000
Utilization: 0
Grant agent: Save the Children US
Strengthen the education ministry's capacity to make evidence-based policy decision by:
Type: Accelerated funding
Years: 2024 - 2026
Allocation: US$6,310,000
Utilization: US$6,287,613
Grant agent: Save the Children US
Type: Program implementation and Multiplier
Years: 2021 - 2026
Allocation: US$39,836,000
Utilization: US$25,142,133
Grant agent: World Bank
As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting: