Bringing climate information to life: Munda Makeover

Smallholder farmers across Zambia are on the frontlines of climate change. From delayed rainfall to unexpected dry spells, the decisions they make about when to plant, what crops to grow, and how to manage their resources can mean the difference between a successful harvest and devastating losses.

Access to reliable, timely climate information is no longer a luxury: it's essential for survival and prosperity.

That's where Munda Makeover comes in.

From entertainment to empowerment

Munda Makeover is Zambia's trusted farmer-focused edutainment program that combines engaging storytelling with practical, research-based agricultural advice. Produced by The Mediae Company, the show reaches farmers across the country through national TV broadcasts in both English and Bemba, ensuring climate-smart knowledge reaches communities in languages they understand.

But, Munda Makeover is more than entertainment: it's a vital bridge connecting scientific climate data with the farmers who need it most.

Behind the scenes: Bringing the story to farmers

Creating impactful content requires close collaboration between media professionals, agricultural experts and the farmers themselves. During production, the Solidaridad & Mediae team worked alongside Zambian farmers to capture authentic stories that resonate with rural audiences.

Bringing Climate Information to Life - How Munda Makeover is Empowering Zambian Farmers - Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT — Technical experts and production crew during field recordings. Photo Credit: Mediae

Each episode is carefully crafted to ensure scientific accuracy while maintaining accessibility. Agricultural specialists, meteorological experts and media producers collaborate to translate complex climate information into practical advice that farmers can immediately apply on their farms. The production process includes engagement with local communities to ensure the content reflects real challenges and provides relevant solutions. This participatory approach ensures that Munda Makeover remains grounded in the realities of Zambian smallholder farming.

The journey from data to delivery

Through a series of specially co-produced segments supported by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and Solidaridad, Munda Makeover is demystifying weather forecasting and making climate services accessible to ordinary farmers.

The program takes viewers on a journey that mirrors Kenya's successful Shamba Shape Up model, showing how:

seasonal to sub-seasonal outlooks are translated into practical advisories relevant to Zambian farming contexts,
agro-advisories are co-developed with agricultural experts to promote sustainable and climate-smart practices,
information reaches farmers through multiple channels TV, radio, SMS, social media, WhatsApp, and community platforms.

Recent episodes have focused on critical topics including:

real-time weather updates during critical planting seasons,
regenerative agriculture techniques for climate resilience,
agricultural mechanization for improved productivity.

The program's multi-channel approach ensures climate information doesn't stop at the TV screen. Broadcasting continues on ZNBC TV 1 with a schedule designed to reach diverse audiences across Zambia:

Nyanja: Fridays at 17:30 hrs
Bemba: Sundays at 15:00 hrs
English: Sundays at 18:00 hrs

Listening and learning

A critical component of the program is feedback. Through SMS polls, community screenings, and feedback sessions, the team actively collects farmer responses to understand what's working and what needs improvement. This two-way communication ensures the content remains relevant, practical, and responsive to farmers' real needs.

A model for climate communication

As climate variability increases across Africa, the need for effective climate communication grows more urgent. Munda Makeover represents a scalable model for how trusted media platforms can serve as powerful vehicles for climate services delivery making complex scientific information accessible, actionable, and relevant to the farmers who need it most. The core principle is simple: climate information must be dependable, understandable, and actionable. When farmers can see where information comes from, understand what it means for their specific context, and know what actions to take, they can make informed decisions that protect their livelihoods and build resilience.

Watch and learn

See how Munda Makeover is bringing climate information to life for Zambian farmers. Visit the Africa Knowledge Zone YouTube channel to watch episodes and learn more about this innovative approach to climate services delivery:

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