About Us
Development studies prepares students for critical thinking on complex and multidimensional issues and problems affecting human society. More specifically, Development Studies as a field aims to foster understanding of the historical and current socio-economic, political, environmental facets of societal change at national, regional and global level. Further, the field puts forward (potential) approaches to development. Therefore, this field is key to problem-solving and policy formulation processes concerning economic, human and sustainable development vis-à-vis key in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals at a global level and at the local level contributing to the achievement of National Development Plans (NDPs).
The Development Studies Department offers quality and competitive undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It is an interdisciplinary Department whose mission is to not only provide high quality teaching, but also research, consultancy and public service in different aspects of human and sustainable development.
Founded in 1975, the Department which is in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) started as a service department, teaching a compulsory first year course which was known as ‘African Development Studies’. The service function of the Department was later extended to the School of Natural Sciences where students were also required to take a similar course. In 1976, students in HSS were for the first time offered the possibility of pursuing a four year Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Development Studies. In the years that followed, a Master of Arts degree was included in the Department’s programmes catalogue and more recently, the Department began to offer a PhD programme. The PhD programme in Development Studies was one of the first to be offered in Zambia absorbing graduates from UNZA and other universities in-country and abroad.
The Department has now emerged as the biggest in the School of HSS, currently with a total annual enrollment of approximately 5000 students at the undergraduate level alone taking courses either as majors or minors.
Career opportunities
The labour market in Zambia (and abroad) has come to recognise and appreciate the expertise possessed by Development Studies graduates as essential to the effective pursuance of economic, human and sustainable development.
Many Development Studies graduates have been traditionally absorbed as key players in various Government Ministries and Departments, and now increasingly by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and the private sector, including banks (see figure below). Multilateral and international organisations such as those in the United Nation, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and embassies have also increasingly employed and appreciated the knowledge and skills Development Studies graduates possess.
Fig. 1 Career opportunities for Development Studies graduates
Student life
The University of Zambia Development Studies Association (UNZADESA), is a student-led organisation focused on promoting development studies within the University of Zambia and beyond. They conduct various activities to empower students and contribute to national development, including engagement in debates in the multi-disciplinary field and service project learning.
Projects
New Directions for Development Studies (NDDS) book project and joint course design
The NDDS Project (2022 to 2024) that successfully crafted core competences in development studies to facilitate curriculum review for its partner universities expanded its activities in 2025. As a spin-off to the original Project, a book on new directions in development studies is in progress as well as collaboration in designing cross-institutional courses. The Project was a multi-university partnership that supported North to North, North to South and South to South collaboration simultaneously with the ultimate goal of developing curriculum that responds to global challenges and is locally relevant. The NDDS team consisted of academics from Development Studies programmes at five universities: the University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, University of Dar-es-Salaam, University of Dodoma and University of Zambia. The Project was funded by the Global Innovation Network (GINTL) and Finland National Agency for Education (TFK).
Strengthening research capacity with University of South Africa (UNISA)
UNZA, through the Department of Development Studies, is finalising the drafting of an MOU with the University of South Africa (UNISA). The collaboration aims at strengthening research capacity of the Universities involved through joint research grant applications and joint research publications. Further, it aims to enhance student learning experiences through cross-country student and lecturers' exchange, collaborative seminar and workshop facilitation, among others. The collaboration will also involve contribution to knowledge production and community development in both South Africa and Zambia. The partnership is anticipated to commence in 2025.
MasterCard Foundation collaboration to enhance youth employment
The Department of Development Studies and the Institute of Economic and Social Research (INESOR) at UNZA in collaboration with Wits Business School's Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) are working on a 4 years project ending in 2027. The main components of the Project that is funded by the Mastercard Foundation is to investigate the contribution of the nonprofit sector towards youth employment creation in 17 selected African countries, including Zambia.
News
Launch of Oxford Handbook of the Zambian Economy graced by Zambia’s President
In November 2024, the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) in collaboration with the Development Studies Department launched the “Oxford handbook of the Zambian Economy," a comprehensive collection of research studies on the Zambian economy. The book that was published by Oxford University Press in June 2024 examines the Zambian economy, its history, current state, challenges, and future prospects, with a particular emphasis on diversification from mining reliance. The guest of honour at the event was his Excellency Dr. Hakainde Hichilema.
Fig 2. President Hichilema Hakainde, members of the Economics Association of Zambia and Development Studies Department Staff
Development Studies Department weighs in on USAID funding withdrawal debate
Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) invited Dr. Brivery Siamabele for a live discussion on the implications of United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) withdrawal on the health and education sector, and the economy. The Departments’ main contribution to this ongoing debate is that despite the health sector being most affected the withdrawal presents a systemic challenge as it is affecting multiple and interconnected sectors simultaneously. Further, in terms of filling the immediate resource gap instituted by the withdrawal, the Zambian Government should consider cooperating with the East to secure cushioning funds. However, in the long run the Government should prioritise domestic resource mobilisation and eradicate the misappropriation of the limited public resources to establish sustainable sources of funding.