Zambia says social protection now takes 6.2 percent of the budget, up from 2.4 percent in 2020. The kwacha allocation for 2026 is lower than 2025

ADDIS ABABA. Permanent Secretary Angela Kawandami told the UNECA Inter-Regional Meeting that social protection now takes 6.2 percent of the national budget, up from 2.4 percent in 2020. She said domestic revenue now funds about 90 percent of the 2026 budget, against 55.2 percent in 2021. That revenue figure is hers and we have not verified it. She said Zambia was hit by droughts in 2021/22 and 2024/25 and pointed to Africa Risk Capacity as a tool for climate shocks. **What the numbers say.** UNDP puts the 2026 allocation at K15.7 billion, about 6.2 percent of the K253.1 billion budget. That is down 3 percent from K16.2 billion in 2025. The share is high. The kwacha amount is lower. The Social Cash Transfer reaches 1.5 million households at K400 a month (K600 for disability). Government funds 88 percent. The Lusaka Times reports K1.4 billion for the May to June cycle, K4.3 billion released since January and K8.5 billion allocated. **Link.** This sits next to the Mweetwa and Itezhi-Tezhi cases (Story 1). Rising share, falling kwacha, and losses in administration. **Sources:** APO Group; UNDP; Lusaka Times; Zambia Monitor.