In Zambia, more than half of the population lives in rural areas. Ensuring that UNFPA can meet its goal of no unmet need for family planning, it’s important that commodities - drugs and other items - can reach rural populations consistently. 

2025 began with major changes in programs across health and other areas due to changes in the way donors decided to fund such programs. UNFPA and partners were determined to be fast in adapting to this changing landscape. 

UNFPA has stepped in to fill the gaps in supply chain management from Zambia to ensure that health commodities reach people in need across the country. In Zambia the Government agency in charge of procuring, storing and distributing health commodities is the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency. 

When news came of stop work orders, UNFPA quickly contracted a local transport company to immediately begin distributing where other contractors had left off. Commodities have now been loaded onto 30 tonne trucks and delivered to the seven regional hubs across the country. 

These trucks UNFPA hired were large enough that ZAMMSA has been able to fill them with other essential commodities, including anti-malaria medication and anti-retroviral medication for people living with HIV. 

In a country which has an HIV infection rate of over 10 percent, it’s incredibly important to ensure that there is an excellent supply of condoms. When UNFPA saw there was a danger of shortages of condoms and other commodities, they were able to quickly pivot and act.