Global perspective Human stories

FROM THE FIELD: The goats helping Zambians to reach economic independence

Sylvia Chiinda has boosted her income by farming goats.
UNDP Zambia
Sylvia Chiinda has boosted her income by farming goats.

FROM THE FIELD: The goats helping Zambians to reach economic independence

SDGs

In Zambia, where the climate crisis is making it increasingly difficult to earn a living, goat-rearing is being seen as a possible route to a better livelihood, and economic resilience.

When Sylvia Chiinda’s husband died, she was left to raise seven children on her own. As extreme weather hit more frequently, her farm became less productive, forcing her to look for other ways to make money.

Women in the village of Kanakanatapa in Zambia’s Chongwe District have more economic independence as a result of diversifying their farming activities.
Women in the village of Kanakanatapa in Zambia’s Chongwe District have more economic independence as a result of diversifying their farming activities. UNDP/Moses Zangar Jr.

Help came in the form of a UN-backed project which is supporting vulnerable women like Ms. Chiinda, by training them in goat-rearing and providing them with a stable income, as demand for Zambian goats grows. 

Read more here about how women supported through the initiative say they have benefited financially as well as gaining a new sense of independence and respect within their villages.