This project profile page contains information about the Zambia Police Service (ZPS) project including project results, impact, and effective practices. This page will be updated annually in line with EIF project reporting requirements.
Data source: United Nations Peace Security Data Hub, a free public library of datasets on peace and security published by the United Nations
| T/PCC | Updates | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||
| Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | |
| Zambia | 152 | 15.03% | 164 | 16.62% | 183 | 18.96% | 210 | 21.49% | 239 | 24.31% | 238 | 24.82% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experts on Mission | 5 | 25.00% | 5 | 29.41% | 5 | 31.25% | 7 | 38.89% | 7 | 38.89% | 5 | 35.71% |
| Individual Police | 26 | 48.15% | 7 | 23.33% | 1 | 8.33% | 10 | 58.82% | 12 | 60.00% | 11 | 50.00% |
| Staff Officer | 8 | 28.57% | 8 | 26.67% | 7 | 25.93% | 11 | 34.38% | 14 | 40.00% | 13 | 39.39% |
| Troops | 113 | 12.43% | 144 | 15.82% | 170 | 18.68% | 182 | 20.00% | 206 | 22.64% | 209 | 23.48% |
The Zambia Police Service (ZPS), established in 1964 under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, is governed by the Zambia Police Act and overseen by the Inspector-General. ZPS contributed its first contingent of 50 police officers to United Nations peacekeeping in 1989, deploying to Namibia under the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG). Since then, the ZPS has participated in 13 United Nations peace operations and contributed to regional missions, including the African Union/United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Despite institutional challenges—such as limited infrastructure and personnel, particularly in rural areas—ZPS has remained a committed peacekeeping partner.
In recent years, ZPS has introduced reforms to enhance operational effectiveness and promote gender equality. A key milestone was the launch of its Gender Equality and Workplace Policy on 11 May 2023. This builds on earlier efforts, including the establishment of a gender unit in 2012 and a women’s network providing mentorship and professional support. With backing from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Elsie Initiative Fund, ZPS is implementing a range of activities to increase the participation of women in peacekeeping and foster a more inclusive police service, aligned with Zambia’s national gender commitments and international peacekeeping standards.
Zambia was one of the seven countries that piloted the DCAF – the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) barrier assessment study in 2020, funded by Canada and Norway.
The ZPS project aims to remove barriers that hinder the participation of ZPS women officers in peacekeeping operations, as identified in the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) report. Key objectives include sensitising officers on gender equity, mainstreaming gender equality, enhancing communications, and reviewing operational processes. By addressing these barriers, the project seeks to empower women within the ZPS and increase their willingness and capacity to be deployed in peace operations. The project’s objectives focus on improving the institutional environment for women to deploy as peacekeepers and enhancing the capacity of women police officers. It addresses challenges such as the insufficient eligibility pool, lack of appropriate infrastructure, negative mission experiences, and limited career progression post-deployment. It also seeks to increase women’s skills and knowledge to overcome barriers such as limited transparency around United Nations peacekeeping deployment criteria.
The project builds on technical assistance provided by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through a bilateral partnership between the Government of Zambia and the Government of Canada, focusing on gender policy frameworks, communications strategies, and equipment to support training for women police officers in peacekeeping operations.
women trained
in leadership,
coaching and
mentoring
Course delivered to support women officers’ leadership and career advancement
gender-
responsive TNA
conducted
Training needs assessment completed to inform training and deployment preparation
leadership
report validated
Report on women’s leadership roles and career advancement within the Zambia Police Service developed and validated
EIF OUTCOME 3
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Anti-SHEA
policy validated
Policy validated with implementation plan, reporting and response mechanisms, and monitoring framework
officers
sensitised on
Anti-SHEA
36 men and 76 women sensitised on the Anti-SHEA policy and Zambia Police Service Gender Policy
Anti-SHEA
handbook
developed
Pocket handbook developed to support implementation of the Anti-SHEA policy
set of gender
mainstreaming
tools developed
Guidelines, checklists and monitoring tools developed for gender-responsive planning and budgeting
Standing
Orders review
completed
Gender-biased language reviewed in Zambia Police Service Standing Orders
EIF OUTCOME 3
ROSTER CREATION
women
deployed as IPOs
29 of 64 women on the roster deployed to United Nations peace operations since 2024
EIF OUTCOME 3
GENDER-SENSITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
accommodation
and childcare
facility complete
Facility will support 40 women and 15 children at the National Peacekeeping Training Centre
focal
points
17 focal points (5 women and 12 men) trained on gender issues in the context of peacekeeping Information Technology (IT) equipment provided to African Union(AU)⁄United Nations PSOs to help focal points expand knowledge-sharing on AU⁄UN peace operations across Zambia’s Police regions
EIF OUTCOME 3
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Gender guidelines
and checklists
Development of guidelines and checklists for gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive planning and budgeting – ongoing in 2024
EIF OUTCOME 3
ROSTER CREATION AND ELIGIBLE POOL
women police
eligible for
deployment
Creation of a roster of 64 women police officers eligible for peacekeeping deployment as IPOs. 20 were nominated for deployment, 6 were selected for pre-deployment training, and 5 deployed to United Nations peace operations in 2024
EIF OUTCOME 3
INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY-BUILDING ON GENDER
daycare
construction
Construction of daycare and women’s accommodation facility for 40 women and 15 children – plans were approved in 2024. Construction is set to commence in 2025
EIF OUTCOME 3
GENDER-SENSITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
focal
points
EIF Outcome 3
US$932,072
US$932,072
Zambia Police Service
UNDP Zambia
12 months
19 December 2022
21 December 2022
31 May 2026
3 January 2024: budget revision and no-cost extension through 31 December 2024
24 April 2025: budget revision and no-cost extension: 12 months through 31 December 2025
30 December 2025: no-cost extension: 5 months through 31 May 2026
41 months (includes two approved budget revisions, and two no-cost extensions, with one combined)
The project is expected to lay the groundwork for greater participation of ZPS women officers in peace operations. It aims to create the conditions necessary for this change within the ZPS by addressing key institutional and practical barriers—improving infrastructure, strengthening gender-responsive policies, building leadership and deployment capacities, and establishing systems for sustained support through mentorship, training, and accountability mechanisms. By investing in these foundational changes, the project seeks to ensure that more women in the ZPS are willing, able, and supported to pursue peacekeeping roles, contributing to a more inclusive and operationally effective police service.
Republic of Zambia National Gender Policy, 2023
ZPS Gender Equality and Workplace Policy, 2023
ZPS Anti-sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse Policy – planned to be published in 2025
230730 CN – Development of ZPS Anti-sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse Policy.pdf
230829 CN – UN & AU Peace Support Office Workshop for Divisional Focal Point Officers.pdf
230829 TOR – AU-UN Focal Point Persons.pdf
231231 ZPS UN-AU Peace Support Office Focal Point Course Curriculum.pdf
240507 CN – Gender Checklist and Guidelines ZPS.pdf
240711 Gender Checklists – Gender Mainstreaming Responsive Planning, Budgeting V1.pdf
Zambia Police Service Gender Workplace Policy 2023 – Launch, 11 May 2023
Call for Continued Efforts to Advance Gender Equality in the Zambia Police Service, 25 July 2023
Zambia Hails Gender-Responsive Peacekeeping Facilities as Key Step Toward Women’s Inclusion and Leadership in Peace-Keeping Operations, 9 April 2025
The Government of the Republic of Zambia commenced development of its 1st NAP in 2024 – planned to be published in 2025
The ZPS completed a MOWIP barrier assessment in 2021, funded by Global Affairs Canada and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Zambia Police Service MOWIP Barrier Assessment Report, 2022
English
