LUSAKA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Zambia launched a 10-million-U.S.-dollar program on Monday aimed at tackling various challenges facing vulnerable children in the southern African nation.

The Service Efficiency and Effectiveness for Vulnerable Children Initiative, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the technical support of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), will cover 15 districts in Zambia.

According to a statement released by UNICEF, the initiative, launched in Kitwe City, Copperbelt Province, will address many issues contributing to the vulnerability of children and adolescents.

The issues include household poverty, violence, family separation, lack of education, malnutrition, HIV infection, early pregnancy and child marriage.

"The situation of our children requires urgent attention and the need for basic care and support services," Emerine Kabanshi, Zambia's minister of community development and social services, said in the statement.

Noala Skinner, a UNICEF representative, said the initiative gives families a chance to break out of the cycle of poverty and exclusion and will contribute to preventing and addressing violence against children.