Despite extensive research into rural development in sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about structural transformation in rural areas on the continent. Zambia was chosen as one of threecase study countries2 in order to identify and to analyse rural transformation processes and theirmain influencing forces aiming at defining strategies and measures to influence such processestowards social inclusiveness and environmental sustainability until 20303.Zambia shows a persisting copper-dependent mono-structure with selective transformation processestowards commercial agricultural production in specific regions. It thus follows a very differenttrajectory than historical transformation processes in Europe or East Asia – it is neithercharacterized by increasing agricultural productivity and depopulation of rural areas, nor by anincreasing share of industry for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or employment, and neither bydeclining birth rates.