May 2025 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket Statement: Cost of Living Still High - Seasonal Gains Offer Relief

The May 2025 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) Statement by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) highlights the continued high cost of living in Zambia, with the BNNB standing at ZMW 11,272.97 — a year-on-year increase of ZMW 571.84. Despite a marginal month-on-month decrease attributed to seasonal food availability, the statement underscores the structural challenges that render essential commodities unaffordable for the majority, particularly the poor and marginalised. It further analyses the implications of seasonal price volatility on household budgeting, nutrition, and vulnerability. The document concludes with policy recommendations centred on strengthening post-harvest infrastructure, promoting food and nutrition literacy, encouraging urban agriculture, and advancing agroecological practices to build resilient food systems.