Project HOPE Concludes Programming in Zambia, Leaving a Legacy of Lifesaving Impact
Project HOPE has concluded its programming in Zambia after six years of work focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents affected by or at risk of HIV.
Since opening its office in Zambia in 2019, Project HOPE has partnered with the Government of Zambia, the private sector, and local and international organizations to strengthen health systems, support families, and advance the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and noncommunicable diseases. The organization also supported maternal, newborn, and child health, while promoting child protection and gender-based violence prevention.
“Our time in Zambia has left an indelible mark, not just on the communities we served, but also on all of us at Project HOPE,” said Chris Skopec, Project HOPE’s Executive Vice President of Global Health. “We are incredibly proud of the partnerships we built and the lives we touched, especially in reaching orphans and vulnerable children. While we are closing our Zambia office, the legacy of this work will endure through the organizations and individuals we’ve supported and trained and will continue to inspire us.”
A cornerstone of this work was Project HOPE’s role in the USAID-funded Empowered Children and Adolescents Program (ECAP III), led by the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ). Through a family-centered, community-driven approach, ECAP III delivered tailored interventions to improve the health and resilience of children and adolescents.
Together with its partners, Project HOPE:
- Provided antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 388,836 adults and children living with HIV.
- Achieved viral load suppression for 248,322 orphans and children living with HIV.
- Empowered 495 caregivers and 495 children with positive parenting skills.
- Reached 2,565 participants with gender-based violence awareness sessions, including engagement with law enforcement, schools, and health facilities.
Due to cuts in U.S. foreign assistance funding, Project HOPE was forced to close our programming in Zambia in June 2025, leaving behind a legacy of strengthened health systems, empowered communities, and a network of partners committed to continuing the work.
Although direct operations in Zambia have halted, Project HOPE remains steadfast in its commitment to improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations in Zambia, across Africa, and around the world. We are grateful to the Government of Zambia and our partners, donors, local leaders, and especially the families and children who welcomed us into their lives.
