There are both domestic and external markets for Zambian products, and the country is on a path toward sustainable development, as demonstrated by the strong successes of non-traditional agricultural exports and the privatized assets of the large parastatal copper mining company. Although international donors have been satisfied with Zambia's progress in technical fields, they have also been concerned with governance issues associated with the flawed 1996 elections, with events in the wake of a failed coup attempt in late 1997, and the slow pace of the privatization of the economically important copper mines. Donors resumed much of the balance of payments assistance after the mine sale was concluded in 2000. The World Bank continues to be the principal multilateral donor, followed by the United Nations agencies and the African Development Bank. Other key donors include the Nordic countries, the European Union, Germany and Japan.
Donors meet frequently to discuss concerns, set priorities and coordinate approaches.
Activities in the rural sector will have a direct impact on incomes. Dramatically shrinking domestic resources and increasing numbers of school-age children have led to a serious deterioration of the quality of basic education in Zambia. Improvements in basic education have broad benefits for the nation. Investments in better gender-balanced educational policy planning, management information systems, and student health and nutrition have been developed in close coordination with the GRZ and other donors. The government is beginning to implement new solutions to the problem of how to provide high-quality basic education at a reasonable cost.