USAID cuts leave women at risk of being forced into “sex for fish” exploitation in drought-hit Zambia
ActionAid forced to shut down vital programme protecting women from abuse in Zambia’s remote fishing camps
Lusaka, Zambia, 8 March 2025—Women and girls in Zambia are at risk of being forced into exploitative “sex for fish” practices because of devastating cuts to U.S. foreign aid, ActionAid warned today.
The abrupt halt of USAID funding has forced ActionAid to shut down its work protecting women in Zambia’s remote fishing camps, stripping communities of vital resources to combat gender-based violence.
Martha*, a fish trader, has built her livelihood in the fishing business, relying on local fishermen to supply her with their daily catch. Although she owns a fishing net, she has no boat to go out on the water herself, making her dependent on the men who control access to the fish.
But in the remote fishing camp where she operates, there’s an unspoken price many women are forced to pay to make a living.
“They don't ask for money,” Martha said. “They demand sex in exchange for cheaper fish.”
This “sex-for-fish" practice has become increasingly common in Zambia as prolonged drought and failed crops have driven more women into the fishing business in search of an income. But for many, it quickly becomes a cycle of abuse and coercion.
Palekelo*, who turned to the fish trade after farming became unsustainable, said: “The fisherman told me I could come with my money but if I didn’t pass by his house to spend the night, I was not going to get any fish.”
The crisis in Zambia is intensifying. Drought-related food and water shortages have left millions struggling, with women and girls disproportionately affected. In the first quarter of 2024, more than 9,300 cases of gender-based violence were reported across the country, according to the Zambia Police Service – and with many cases going unreported, this figure is likely only the tip of the iceberg.
Since 2023, ActionAid's programme, funded by USAID, was making a tangible difference. Community-led Women’s Watch Groups were helping women escape exploitation and report abuse, and safe houses and medical care were available to survivors. Awareness campaigns were breaking the silence around sex-for-fish practices.
Palekelo*, now a member of a Women’s Watch Group helping to protect other women from exploitation in the fishing camp, has seen a change.
“Women know their rights now, and what someone is able to do to their bodies, and what someone is not supposed to do to their bodies, and how to report their cases ... They know that “sex-for-fish" is not okay,” she said.
As a result of the United States’ decision to slash its foreign assistance—alongside sweeping aid cuts from other governments such as the UK, France, Belgium and Switzerland— the project has been terminated, leaving women and girls at risk. ActionAid warns that cuts like this jeopardise critical services, including maternal health programs and education. It will affect millions and undermine progress toward global gender equality.
Faides TembaTemba, Country Director for ActionAid Zambia, called on the U.S. and other governments to reinstate funding immediately.
“No mother should have to trade her safety to keep her children from starving. But that is the reality women in Zambia now face. It is unacceptable that, in 2025, we are forcing women into a cycle of violence and abuse simply because governments have chosen to turn their backs.”
On this International Women’s Day, ActionAid urges world leaders to restore and increase funding for programmes that protect women from exploitation and violence.
ActionAid USA’s Executive Director, Niranjali Amerasinghe, said:
“The reckless decision to slash USAID funding is having an immediate and severe impact on the world’s most vulnerable. It has left women and girls in Zambia at risk of exploitation, stripping away critical support with no plan to replace it. This is not about efficiency; it’s about a callous disregard for those in need, driven by political maneuvering and the influence of an unelected billionaire. We will not stand by while critical programs are dismantled. Aid must be restored immediately.”