UNESCO awards Zambia USD 30,000 to boost anti-doping capacity
Paris, France, 24.10.25 — UNESCO has awarded the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts USD 30,000 to consolidate anti-doping capacity in Zambia and enhance national compliance with the UNESCO Convention Against Doping in Sport. The funding will support the finalisation of a zero draft anti-doping bill, a significant milestone toward the establishment of an independent National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO).
The announcement was made on 21 October 2025 during the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the UNESCO Convention Against Doping in Sport held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
This project builds on the firm foundation already laid through three previous initiatives supported by the UNESCO Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport, which have progressively strengthened Zambia’s anti-doping framework.
The funding follows the approval of Zambia’s project proposal by the Approval Committee of the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport, a mechanism established by UNESCO to assist member states to develop and implement anti-doping projects.
The project will support national consultations on the draft anti-doping legislation, paving the way for its enactment and the establishment of an independent NADO that will oversee the implementation of Zambia’s obligations under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport and contribute to the global effort to eliminate doping in sport.
As part of the project, 20 personnel from the National Food and Nutrition Commission, Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, and Zambia Bureau of Standards will undergo capacity-building training to strengthen the regulation of food supplements on the Zambian market, safeguarding athletes’ health and integrity. These trained officers will become part of the National Compliance Platform for the UNESCO Convention against Doping in Sport.
The Ministry will also train 20 trainers of trainers and animators in anti-doping education across all provinces. These trainers will, in turn, train anti-doping education officers within the 116 decentralized district sport offices, aligning with the 2024 National Sport Policy which prioritise sport decentralisation as a tool for youth empowerment, employment creation, and poverty alleviation. Following this training, the Ministry will continue facilitating district-level training in collaboration with local authorities.
Additionally, the project will train or orient 20 physical education and sport lecturers or researchers from both public and private universities to enhance their capacity to conduct anti-doping research and leverage WADA research grants, contributing empirical data to strengthen anti-doping work in Zambia.
These initiatives are designed to reinforce Zambia’s anti-doping structures and align the country’s efforts with international best practices under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Hon Elvis Nkandu, MP, expressed appreciation to UNESCO for its continued support, noting that the grant reaffirms Zambia’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sport and protecting the health and rights of athletes.
