Resilience in Agriculture and Investing in Nature Zambia (RAINZ)

In Zambia, low agricultural productivity and climate are driving poverty, nature loss, and vulnerability to shocks. RAINZ addresses these challenges by tackling policy and market failures in agriculture, climate adaptation, and natural resource management. Through three integrated components—a Policy Facility, Markets Facility, and Partnerships Facility—it blends technical programming, strategic partnerships, and UK diplomacy to unlock reform, attract private investment, and build inclusive, climate-resilient rural economies. RAINZ focuses on policy and systems to increase agricultural productivity, link smallholders to high-value markets, expands access to climate finance and information, and is designed for flexibility and long-term sustainability, recognising that systemic change requires both political engagement and market-driven solutions.

Component 1, the Policy Facility

This component works at systems level. It aims to support policy reform to increase agricultural productivity and improve natural resources management. Reforms may focus on supporting crop diversification, public extension services, agricultural market improvements – including financial markets, climate and weather services and early warning systems. Activities will be further defined during the inception phase but are likely to include research, technical assistance and embedded advisory capacity to support the Government of Zambia’s Ministries and Agencies deliver on priorities linked to the RAINZ objectives.

The route to market for this contract is not yet determined and FCDO will be using market feedback from the Early Market Engagement event (forms.office.com/e/586QCJ047z ↗) to inform the decision. The route to market stated in this notice is therefore subject to change. FCDO cannot guarantee that interested suppliers will be eligible to participate in the route to market that is ultimately selected.