Ireland's relationship with Zambia

Ireland’s links with Zambia stretch back over a century, with Irish missionary societies among the main providers of services in health and education throughout much of the 20th century.

The first President of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda visited Ireland in 1964, just weeks after he was sworn in. During his visit, he asked the Irish people in a historic televised address “to come and help us build a truly non-racial and happy society of Zambia.”  Irish people responded.

Ireland’s friendship with Zambia predates Independence. Beginning in the 1930s, Irish people, particularly Irish missionaries, played vital roles in delivering health and education services.  Irish lawyers also played a notable role in newly independent Zambia, occupying the Offices of Minister for Justice and Chief Justice.

People to people connections

Today there are around 750-800 Irish citizens living in Zambia, many of them dual nationals. Ireland values its diaspora in Zambia as well as the Zambian diaspora in Ireland. Since 1992, over 250 Zambian Fellows have pursued further studies in Ireland under the Ireland Africa Fellows programme, and these fellows continue to contribute to mutual understanding between Ireland and Zambia.

The Irish ‘Wild Geese Society of Lusaka’, a community organisation in Zambia, was founded 60 years ago. They embrace and support the changing and increasingly diverse Irish community to this day. Irish people, from all parts of Ireland, remain active working on projects to improve the lives of people in communities across Zambia..

In recognition of this, two Irish people have been honoured with Zambia’s highest honour, the Order of Distinguished Service. In 2003, Sr Lucy O’Brien was awarded the honour for her contributions to women’s healthcare. In 2018, Fr Michael J Kelly, a world-renowned expert on girls’ education and on HIV/AIDS education, received the same honour from Zambia.

Diverse and deep people-to-people connections, as well as a strong Irish commitment to supporting Zambia over the decades, continue to be the hallmarks of our relationship. Theses shared experiences and deep connections enrich both societies.

The Government of Ireland has consistently supported Zambia since independence. This has included the training of many Zambian government officials in diverse fields of public administration. In addition, five Zambian cadet classes graduated from Ireland’s Military College in Co. Kildare. Irish businesses also took up the challenge and became active in building Zambia’s sugar, cement, construction, dairy and cotton industries amongst others.

An Irish Development Cooperation Office was set up in Zambia in 1980, after the establishment of Ireland’s Official Development Aid programme in 1974. An early focus on education and health expanded to include support for social protection.

Ireland’s Development Programme in Zambia had a significant commitment to Zambia’s Northern Province, where it became one of the largest employers in the area between 1982 and 2012.

In addition to our long standing development programme and partnership, Ireland has remained quick to offer support in the face of crisis, providing an additional €1.8m in funding to address the challenges associated with the extreme drought Zambia faced in 2024.