Exploring Best Practices for Environmental Sustainability: A Case of Zambia’s Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and Zambia Environmental Management Agency

This study examined environmental sustainability practices within two key institutions in Zambia—the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)—with the aim of assessing current approaches, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening sustainability management. Guided by a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, the study first collected quantitative data from respondents and analyzed it using SPSS, followed by qualitative data from key informants analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings indicate widespread adoption of sustainability policies and practices across both institutions, although disparities exist in environmental management systems certification. The study reveals that financial constraints and operational inefficiencies are the dominant challenges affecting sustainability implementation. Qualitative insights highlight additional barriers including limited staffing, inadequate monitoring equipment, and outdated policy frameworks. The study concludes that while Zambia has made notable progress in promoting environmental sustainability through institutional frameworks and policy initiatives, implementation gaps persist due to resource and capacity constraints. It recommends policy modernization, enhanced staff participation, increased financial and technical capacity, strengthened public-private partnerships, and expanded community engagement to improve sustainability outcomes.