Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development

In this policy brief, we present findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Zambia’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty red...

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Autores principales: Aragie, Emerta A., Thurlow, James, Xu, Valencia Wenqian, Jones, Eleanor
Formato: Brief
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176185
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author Aragie, Emerta A.
Thurlow, James
Xu, Valencia Wenqian
Jones, Eleanor
author_browse Aragie, Emerta A.
Jones, Eleanor
Thurlow, James
Xu, Valencia Wenqian
author_facet Aragie, Emerta A.
Thurlow, James
Xu, Valencia Wenqian
Jones, Eleanor
author_sort Aragie, Emerta A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In this policy brief, we present findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Zambia’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty reduction, declining undernourishment, and lowering diet deprivation. Additionally, the study assesses their environmental footprint, focusing on water consumption, land use, and emissions. Investments in small and medium enterprise (SME) traders and processors are shown to be the most cost-effective at driving improvements in social outcomes, like poverty and undernourishment. They are also highly ranked in terms of expanding agrifood GDP and employment. Expansion in extension and advisory services for livestock, rural roads, farmers credit, and seed systems also rank high. How ever, many cost-effective investments have relatively high environmental footprints, which highlights potential tradeoffs. The study further reveals shifts in the cost-effectiveness ranking of investment options overtime and when extreme production shocks occur.
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spelling CGSpace1761852025-11-06T04:21:32Z Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development Aragie, Emerta A. Thurlow, James Xu, Valencia Wenqian Jones, Eleanor agrifood systems investment development poverty nutrition In this policy brief, we present findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Zambia’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty reduction, declining undernourishment, and lowering diet deprivation. Additionally, the study assesses their environmental footprint, focusing on water consumption, land use, and emissions. Investments in small and medium enterprise (SME) traders and processors are shown to be the most cost-effective at driving improvements in social outcomes, like poverty and undernourishment. They are also highly ranked in terms of expanding agrifood GDP and employment. Expansion in extension and advisory services for livestock, rural roads, farmers credit, and seed systems also rank high. How ever, many cost-effective investments have relatively high environmental footprints, which highlights potential tradeoffs. The study further reveals shifts in the cost-effectiveness ranking of investment options overtime and when extreme production shocks occur. 2025-08-22 2025-08-22T18:12:01Z 2025-08-22T18:12:01Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176185 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Aragie, Emerta; Thurlow, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian; and Jones, Eleanor. 2025. Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development. Agrifood Investment Prioritization Country Series Brief 5. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176185
spellingShingle agrifood systems
investment
development
poverty
nutrition
Aragie, Emerta A.
Thurlow, James
Xu, Valencia Wenqian
Jones, Eleanor
Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_full Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_fullStr Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_full_unstemmed Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_short Zambia: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_sort zambia cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
topic agrifood systems
investment
development
poverty
nutrition
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176185
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AT joneseleanor zambiacosteffectiveoptionsforinclusiveandsustainabledevelopment