Zambezi River Research Project Gains Momentum at World Public Summit

Experts call for stronger science, regional cooperation and cultural preservation to secure the future of one of Africa’s most important rivers.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 30, 2026 – Scientists, policymakers and cultural experts have renewed calls for stronger scientific collaboration and regional partnerships to safeguard the Zambezi River, describing it as a shared natural and cultural asset that requires coordinated action across Southern Africa.

The discussions took centre stage during the opening day of the World Public Summit in Addis Ababa, where researchers unveiled an ambitious international study on the river. The initiative aims to generate practical solutions that improve livelihoods, protect ecosystems and preserve the cultural heritage of communities living along the Zambezi.

A science-led approach to sustainable development

The interdisciplinary research will assess the Zambezi River’s socioeconomic importance across Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. It will also consider the wider river basin, including Tanzania and Malawi.

Importantly, the project aligns with the African Union’s 2026 theme, “Ensuring Sustainable Access to Water and Safe Sanitation to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”

Ivan Zakharov, a researcher at the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, described the Zambezi as an ideal case study for international cooperation on shared water resources.

“I think it has a bright future,” Zakharov said, adding that the initiative could become “a very interesting role model” for other river basins, including the Nile.

He explained that researchers will conduct extensive field studies covering economics, international relations, history, social geography and anthropology. As a result, the project will provide a deeper understanding of how communities interact with the river across different climatic and hydrological conditions.

“We need to engage all the countries in this river basin to understand migration patterns during the dry season, the rainy season and especially when floods are coming,” Zakharov said. “This will allow us to trace these patterns and try to eliminate negative consequences such as conflicts.”

He noted that the findings could support coordinated development policies and help reduce disputes among countries sharing the river.

Preserving culture alongside conservation

For Victoria Phiri Chitungu, Director of Zambia’s National Livingstone Museum, the summit transformed an informal concept into a structured international initiative backed by scientific institutions.

“I came here with the idea of the Zambezi River project, which was just an idea among friends. But coming to this conference, it has put it into a conceptualised idea, like a tangible project,” she said.

According to Chitungu, the discussions expanded the project’s scope beyond the six countries through which the Zambezi flows to include the wider river basin and the interconnected communities whose livelihoods depend on it.

Researchers also plan to document the region’s cultures, languages, traditions, wildlife and ecosystems. In addition, they will examine how economic development, population growth and climate change continue to reshape communities along the river.

“If we don’t study the river, if we don’t appreciate it, if we don’t know what’s happening around it, it means that this river might not be preserved,” Chitungu warned.

She added that several African rivers have already disappeared because of environmental degradation, highlighting the urgency of protecting the continent’s major waterways.

Architecture and education support the vision

Beyond scientific research, the initiative seeks to create educational and cultural spaces that make knowledge about the Zambezi more accessible.

Russian student Svetlana Dubeykovskaya showcased architectural concepts developed by young Russian designers for a cultural complex in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi region.

She said the proposals demonstrate how architecture can support education, cultural preservation and community development.

“People spent six months on these projects. They thought about every single thing and researched a lot about the region,” she said.

She also expressed hope that African and Russian architects would collaborate to transform the concepts into practical projects that celebrate the region’s cultural identity while improving local livelihoods.

Zambezi River Research Project Gains Momentum at World Public Summit

International partnership to continue

Yanina Dubeykovskaya, Deputy Executive Director of the World Peoples Assembly and President of the Association of Women Public Figures “Women’s Influence,” said the Addis Ababa meeting marked the beginning of a long-term international collaboration.

“We are not only meeting each other once in three years, but we are doing common projects,” she said.

She announced that participating institutions will continue refining the initiative ahead of presentations planned during the Russia-Africa track in Moscow later this year. Researchers intend to present exhibition concepts and develop a shared scientific methodology for the study.

Research expeditions planned for 2027

Under the proposed framework, museums and universities from Russia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique will undertake joint research expeditions throughout 2027.

The collaboration will produce a comprehensive scientific report, policy recommendations, exhibitions, photographic archives and educational materials.

Participants said the initiative represents a new model of Africa-centred international research. By combining science, culture and development planning, they hope to ensure that the Zambezi River continues to serve as both an engine of economic opportunity and a shared natural heritage for future generations.