Episode 9: From the Ground Up: How Local Funds Are Reinventing Zambia’s Immunization Future

As Zambia navigates its transition away from public health donor dependency, a compelling locally-led solution is emerging: leveraging the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for immunization programming. With over 40 million Kwacha, about $2 million, allocated to each of Zambia's 156 constituencies in 2026, lawmakers are now pushing for a ring-fenced quota for immunization programs. In Mbabala constituency alone, that model has already resulted in the construction of two maternity annexes, seven equipped health facilities, community water schemes and a community volunteer workforce reaching children at the last mile.

In this episode of One Shot, Long Life!, host Abel Akara Ticha speaks with three leaders at the center of this effort:

· Honorable Joseph Munsanje, Member of Parliament for Mbabala and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health

· Honorable Christopher Kang’ombe, Member of Parliament for Kitwe and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Immunization

· Friday Nkhoma, Manager of Advocacy Planning and Development at the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ)

Together, they discuss how the CDF is being deployed to strengthen reliable cold chains for vaccines, power health facility equipment and mobilize community volunteers, as well as how CHAZ is translating constituency-level successes into national advocacy. Join us to understand how Zambia is turning local political will into a replicable national model and what a fully domesticated immunization program could look like by 2030.