In December 2025, the Government of Zambia, represented by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Zambia Statistics Agency, held the first Zambia NCA Forum in Lusaka. The event was supported by the World Bank’s Global Program on Sustainability. This important gathering brought together government leaders, policymakers, technical experts, development partners, academics, and private sector representatives. They met to review Zambia’s progress in natural capital accounting and discuss future steps. The Forum marked Zambia’s move from early pilot projects to a fully integrated system that uses natural capital data in policy decisions. Since 2016, Zambia has developed official Land, Forest, and Water Accounts, and in 2025, completed its first Ecosystem Services Account.
These accounts now give detailed data, both nationally and locally, on changes in land use, forest resources and losses, water use and flows, and ecosystem services like carbon storage, soil protection, and water management. In his keynote speech, Dr. Achim Fock, the World Bank Country Manager for Zambia, explained that natural capital accounting is more than just collecting statistics. It is a strategic tool that helps make nature visible in economic decisions. He pointed out that natural resources such as forests, land, and water make up nearly 40 percent of Zambia’s national wealth. By including these resources in national accounts, policymakers can better understand if development is helping or harming long-term prosperity.
One main topic of the Forum was using natural capital data in economic planning and modeling. Thanks to skills gained through the NCA Program, Zambia now uses this information to analyze future scenarios. Presentations at the Forum showed that investing in nature, especially in farming, forestry, and land management, can support steady economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve ecosystem services compared to business-as-usual approaches. These findings have already influenced Zambia’s Ninth National Development Plan, climate policies, and World Bank-funded projects such as TRALARD II.
The Forum also showcased strong progress in building institutions, especially in 2025. The NCA Program is led by the Ministry of Finance and works closely with the Zambia Statistics Agency and other ministries through specialized technical groups. New tools introduced in 2025 allow for local-level water and land accounting, helping to increase local responsibility and ensure the program’s long-term success. Participants agreed that natural capital accounting is now a regular part of planning, budgeting, and statistics, meeting a key national goal. The Forum established Zambia as a leader in Africa for policy-driven natural capital accounting, with opportunities to share its experience with other countries. There was clear agreement that natural capital accounting is becoming a basic part of Zambia’s strategy for climate resilience and sustainable development.
