Zambia is enhancing climate resilience and sustainable food systems by integrating behavioural science into climate-smart agriculture training and extension services. Through collaboration between the Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture in Zambia (SIFAZ) and FACE-NDC projects, the initiative supports smallholder farmers in adopting climate-smart technologies and sustainable intensification practices at scale.
The approach, which combines climate education, behaviour insights, and community-led learning, was recently highlighted at the 19th FAO Subregional Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting for Southern Africa, demonstrating a new frontier in farmer engagement and climate action across the region.
Agriculture, forestry, and land-use change remain major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Zambia. While farmers are aware of sustainable practices, adoption has been limited due to social, cultural, and behavioural barriers. FAO and national partners introduced a behaviour-informed approach to make climate messaging relatable and grounded in local realities, helping farmers adopt climate-smart technologies and improve land management for long-term resilience.
Implementation teams from SIFAZ and FACE-NDC, including behavioural scientists, agronomists, and extension officers, engaged farmers, women, youth, and traditional leaders through community dialogues and focus groups. Using a behavioural prioritization framework, the programme identified key behavioural drivers and designed targeted interventions aligned with cultural norms. Blended learning approaches, participatory problem-solving, peer exchange, and lead-farmer mentorship reinforced knowledge transfer and positioned communities as co-creators of change.
The initiative has led to significant adoption of Sustainable Intensification Practices, training over 47,600 farmers through lead-farmer models. Participating households reported average yield increases of 60 percent and profit gains of 40 percent. Farmer-to-farmer learning has strengthened trust in extension systems and linked traditional knowledge with modern technologies, showing that behaviour-responsive agricultural extension can accelerate climate-smart adoption, improve productivity, and enhance resilience, particularly when women and youth are engaged as change agents.
With SIFAZ and FACE-NDC operating nationally, the model is being expanded to additional districts as part of Zambia’s broader climate and agricultural policies. Scaling efforts include integrating behaviour-change methodologies into extension programs, strengthening digital knowledge-sharing platforms, and building capacity among implementing partners and local authorities. A detailed framework guides nationwide rollout across Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern provinces.
By embedding behavioural science into climate education and empowering farmers as leaders of change, Zambia is advancing a model of climate-smart agriculture that strengthens food security, boosts livelihoods, and supports the development of sustainable, low-emission agrifood systems.
