This policy insights paper explains why the economic recovery programme dubbed Zambia Plus will be absolutely essential for Zambia from 2017 onward. The paper highlights the scale of the challenge of Zambia’s 2015/2016 economic downturn, which necessitated the Zambia Plus recovery programme. It recounts the main sources of the downturn, and explains some of its main implications. Finally, it explores the would-be consequences of inaction or inability to establish and execute a credible economic recovery programme, and posits some essential policy, social and institutional adjustment that would be required for a successful recovery programme.