The Government of Zambia has prioritized decentralization by devolution to counter historically centralized governance and limited local development. Despite previous policy efforts, progress was constrained by low institutional capacity, weak incentives, and implementation challenges, particularly in rural districts. To address these gaps, Government has introduced the 2023 Decentralization Policy and its Implementation Plan (DIP) 2023-2027, aimed at empowering Local Authorities through increased resources, capacity building, and strengthened intergovernmental fiscal architecture. Key governance functions and personnel have also been seconded to local authorities to enhance service delivery and citizen participation. Supporting this effort is the USD 210 million Zambia Devolution Support Programme (ZDSP), which is being implemented across all Local Authorities to boost financial and institutional capacity and advance the national devolution agenda.