November 2024 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket Statement: Building Resilience through Value Addition and Diversification

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) reports a slight decline in the Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for November 2024, with the cost for a family of five in Lusaka reducing marginally to K10,393.16 from K10,408.88 in October. The decrease is attributed to seasonal price drops in fruits and essential staples like mealie meal and Kapenta. However, the overall impact was mitigated by significant price hikes in charcoal, groundnuts, and chicken, which continue to strain household budgets. The report underscores the persistent challenges of high living costs amidst rising urban poverty, stagnant incomes, and energy shortages. JCTR recommends urgent measures, including promoting alternative energy sources, enhancing local production, and expanding social protection initiatives to alleviate the burden on vulnerable households.