By Monica Kayombo/Zambia, Lusaka,
ZAMBIA’s growing debt burden is raising concerns about the country’s ability to finance climate adaptation and build resilient food systems, as experts warn that mounting debt repayments are leaving climate-vulnerable countries with fewer resources to protect communities and livelihoods.
The situation is particularly concerning for smallholder farmers, especially women, who depend heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods and face increasing challenges from droughts, unpredictable rainfall and other climate-related shocks.
The concerns emerged during a Climate Media Café organised by ActionAid International in collaboration with the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) on October 29, 2026, which brought together journalists from Zambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda and other African countries to discuss climate change, debt, agricultural financing and preparations for the forthcoming 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey.
The online meeting was moderated by MESHA Chief Executive Officer Daniel Aghan and featured presentations by ActionAid International Global Lead on Climate Justice Teresa Anderson and ActionAid Tanzania Country Director Bavon Christopher.
Presenting findings from ActionAid’s flagship report, Debt Fuels the Climate Crisis: How the Finance Flows, released on September 16, 2026, Anderson argued that sovereign debt is an important but often overlooked barrier to climate action in developing countries.
She cited Zambia as one of the countries facing the challenge, stating that the country spends more than 60 percent of its government budget and about 70 percent of its revenue on debt repayments, while allocating only 0.32 percent of total government expenditure to climate activities.
Ms Anderson linked the country’s financial constraints to the drought experienced in 2024 and 2025, warning that limited investment in adaptation and preparedness could leave farmers exposed to future climate shocks, including the possibility of another difficult agricultural season associated with an impending Super El Niño.
According to ActionAid’s analysis of the most climate-vulnerable countries, 93.5 percent are either in debt distress or at risk of it, with these countries spending nearly two-thirds of their national revenues on debt servicing.
The report further indicates that climate-vulnerable countries are spending nearly 25 times more on debt repayments than on climate action, leaving limited resources for public services, development and climate resilience.
Ms Anderson explained that climate change and debt reinforce each other, as countries are forced to borrow to respond to disasters, rebuild infrastructure and support affected communities, while increasing debt obligations reduce their capacity to prepare for subsequent climate impacts.
She argued that debt cancellation should be recognised as part of the climate solutions conversation because it could release resources for adaptation, public services and sustainable development.
The challenge extends beyond Zambia. Anderson noted that Sub-Saharan Africa requires more than US$1.4 trillion in climate finance this decade but receives an average of only US$35 billion annually, with more than half of the financing coming in the form of loans rather than grants.
Other African countries are experiencing similar pressures. In Malawi, debt repayments are estimated to consume 70 percent of the national budget in 2026, while the country continues to face the financial consequences of destructive cyclones. In Senegal, debt servicing is estimated at more than 600 times government spending on climate action. Mozambique is also facing growing pressure from successive cyclones, droughts and floods, while debt obligations are increasing pressure to exploit its natural gas resources.
Ms Anderson called on wealthy countries to provide adequate grant-based climate finance instead of relying on loans that could deepen the debt crisis of vulnerable nations.
Meanwhile, Mr Christopher’s presentation focused on the role of agroecology in strengthening African food systems, improving farmers’ incomes and responding to climate change.
Presenting findings from ActionAid International’s multi-country business case research on agroecology, which covered 10 African countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana and The Gambia, Christopher challenged the conventional approach of measuring agricultural success through increased production alone.
He argued that the discussion should also consider whether people can afford nutritious food and whether farming practices sustain soils, biodiversity, livelihoods and a stable climate.
The research included three in-depth field research hubs in Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, with 108 quantitative surveys conducted in Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Christopher explained that agroecology could improve farm profitability by reducing dependence on expensive imported fertilisers and pesticides, improving soil health, diversifying production and creating multiple income opportunities.
The presentation cited Kenyan research showing that agroecological households recorded 37.8 percent higher broad productivity per hectare, attributed to input cost savings and crop diversification. Multi-year organic farming trial data from Kenya also indicated 53 percent higher long-term profitability where premium markets rewarded produce with price premiums of between 25 and 50 percent.
However, Mr Christopher cautioned that transitioning to agroecology requires time, learning and initial financial support, with results varying according to crops, locations and farming practices.
He highlighted the importance of crop rotation, intercropping, agroforestry, livestock integration and local seed varieties in improving soil health, conserving moisture, diversifying production and strengthening farmers’ resilience to drought and rainfall variability.
The research also identified opportunities beyond farming, including compost manufacturing, bio-pesticide production, seed preservation, food processing, aggregation and market development, which could create additional employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people.
Both presentations highlighted the gender dimensions of climate change. Anderson observed that women and girls experience disproportionate impacts from climate disasters and debt-related austerity, including longer journeys in search of water, skipped meals, school disruption and increased exposure to gender-based violence.
She further noted that cuts to health and education services disproportionately affect women, while reduced public services increase their unpaid care responsibilities. Despite these challenges, women remain important leaders in food production, adaptation and community-based climate solutions.
Mr Christopher identified women’s leadership in seed banking, processing enterprises and income management as important opportunities for expanding the benefits of agroecology.
He, however, identified inadequate public investment, limited agricultural research, insufficient extension services, transition risks and weak coordination among government ministries as major barriers to scaling up agroecology across Africa.
He called for increased financing for farmer transition programmes, research, extension services, local bio-input production, appropriate technologies and market infrastructure.
He also urged governments and development partners to ensure that climate financing reaches smallholder farmers and women-led organisations.
Looking ahead to COP31,
Ms Anderson identified just transition, adaptation finance, agriculture, energy transitions, gender equality, climate finance and sovereign debt as some of the key issues requiring attention.
She called for an effective Just Transition Mechanism, building on the commitment made at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to ensure that workers, women and communities are protected and included as countries transition towards more sustainable economies.
On agriculture, she advocated for greater recognition of agroecology as a climate solution, while calling for increased direct financing for local farmers and women-led organisations.
She also highlighted the need for stronger adaptation finance commitments, arguing that grants should be prioritised to avoid increasing the debt burden of vulnerable countries.
For Zambia and other African countries, the discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring that climate commitments are supported by adequate financing and translated into practical interventions that protect farmers, improve food security and strengthen community resilience.
As Africa prepares for COP31, the question is not only how much climate finance will be pledged, but whether the resources will reach the communities that need them most and enable countries to address climate change without compromising their development priorities.
