The “Enhancing Livelihoods and Smallholder Agricultural Markets” (ELSAM) project represents a concerted effort to uplift Zambia’s smallholder farmers by engaging them in environmentally sustainable, resilient, low carbon, circular, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural value chains. Funded by the European Union and implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, ELSAM will advance the goals of the EU Green Nexus Programme, which focuses on sustainable and coherent management of agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, water, and climate sectors.
 ELSAM addresses Zambia’s pressing issues, such as food insecurity, low agricultural productivity, and the impacts of climate change, often exacerbated by
poor farming practices and underdeveloped market systems.
• In order to enhance Zambia’s resilience and promote sustainable development under the EU Green NEXUS Programme, the ELSAM project will:
• Promote sustainable agroecological practices.
• Facilitate access to finance and inclusion of women and youth into the economy
• Promote new technology to improve agricultural productivity and market access.
ELSAM activities will contribute directly to a future where economic growth is pursued in harmony with environmental responsibility and the objectives of building an inclusive and resilient society. This is how we translate the objectives of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy into concrete activities in Zambia.

Objectives

The ELSAM project sets forth comprehensive objectives to promote the participation of smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, in sustainable and resilient agricultural value chains. These value chains should be market-integrated, environmentally sustainable, low carbon, circular, and nutrition-sensitive, aiming to supply quality and nutritious products to the Zambian population.

Key objectives of ELSAM include:
• Fostering sustainable agricultural development to boost production and productivity.
• Empowering smallholder farmers by improving access to financial services and products, which in turn enhances resilience and diversifies livelihoods.
• Enhancing market access and technological advancement to increase household incomes and foster empowerment.
• Implementing gender-transformative and green-enabling approaches to promote inclusivity, preserve biodiversity, and sustain agricultural ecosystems.
These objectives reflect an integrated strategy to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing Zambia’s agricultural sector, which will help smallholder farmers to succeed in an evolving agricultural landscape.

Expected results 
ELSAM contributes to implementing Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan and the Second National Agricultural Policy, aiming to tackle critical challenges like food and nutrition insecurity, poverty, and agricultural growth. The initiative directly addresses issues such as climate shocks, unpredictable market developments, limited financial access, poor farming practices and low diversification in value chains.
Key results expected from the project include:
• Widespread adoption of climate-resilient and sustainable agroecological practices.
• Enhanced market participation through diversification into profitable value chains.
• Financial inclusion, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth.

ELSAM adopts a holistic approach to support Zambia’s smallholder farmers, enhancing agricultural productivity and market access while fostering sustainable growth and resilience against future challenges. 

Key strategies include:
1. Promoting climate-resilient and sustainable agroecological practices to ensure long-term viability.
2. Encouraging participation in diversified and marketable value chains, enhancing economic opportunities.
3. Focusing on financial inclusion, especially for women and youth, to integrate them into viable markets.
4. Facilitating engagement in agribusiness activities across the food value chain, promoting economic resilience.
5. Supporting a green energy transition, contributing to climate change mitigation by reducing CO2 emissions by 40,000 tons annually and generating potential carbon credits.

This integrated method empowers farmers with digital solutions, sustainable practices, and connections to financial services, aiming for substantial efficiency improvements and robust economic resilience.