Socio-Cultural Research Programme

The Socio-cultural Research Programme  generates evidence based information through research to guide national development policies. It observes that Zambia’s population has been increasing steadily: at 15.4 million in 2015 projected to increase to 17.9 million by 2020 based on the average annual growth rate of 2.8 percent. At this growth rate, the population is expected to reach 23.6 Million by 2030.  A majority (46.0%) of the population is under the age of 15 and is highly dependent (CSO, 2013:10). A highly dependent population poses a great socio-economic burden on the family and the nation as a whole. Mitigation of this burden will largely depend on measures put in place to promote sustainable development which puts into consideration socio-cultural factors. According to the Seventh National Development Plan (2017:29), cultural factors specifically include values, attitudes and behavioural patterns that are intertwined in various aspects of development. Despite this recognition, Socio-cultural factors, generally, have not been given enough consideration when addressing national development policies. To address this gap, the following are the main focus of current research: 

  • Communication, Information Communication Technologies for development, in response to various development processes currently under way;
  • Utilization of indigenous knowledge, with respect to food processing, preservation and storage, in response to the nation’s current efforts aimed at food sufficiency and food security;
  • Contributing to the enhancement and/or promotion of the tourist industry with regard to, in particular, tourism promotion and marketing, tourism product development, tourism sector capacity building and the promotion of cultural and creative industries;
  • Contributing to the evolution of a comprehensive language policy and practice for Zambia;
  • Contributing to the preservation and promotion of Zambia’s intangible cultural heritage with special reference to changing family patterns as well as social and cultural traditions and trends in general; and,
  • Analysis of rights and equity in respect of minority, marginalised and vulnerable groups (children, women, disabled, etc.). 
Institute of Economic and Social Research