16+
Years of Impact
580+
Partners Collaborated With
10
Provinces Covered
50k+
Lives Touched
100%
Local Solutions
About Us
The Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF) for Civil Society was established as a not-for-profit private company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act Chapter 388 of the Laws of Zambia in July 2009. ZGF was formed to strengthen the institutional capacity and autonomy of civil society organisations (CSO) to engage actively in policy processes and undertake advocacy on behalf of the poor and socially excluded people in Zambia. In 2017, community philanthropy emerged as a new pillar of work following exposure to the concept of community philanthropy promoted by the Global Fund for Community Foundations. The organisation has started engaging in community-led development initiatives using community philanthropy as one of the key strategies. In this new direction, ZGF still remains committed to civil society organisations (CSO) support through various mechanisms including sub-granting and capacity building.
Vision
A Zambian society where local communities realise their rights and shape their own development.
Mission
Local communities and civil society with strengthened capacities to unlock and utilise available resources.
Our Programmatic Pillars
The core strategies driving community-led development across Zambia.
CSO Support
Building the capacity of local organisations to practice active citizenship.
Explore Strategy →Strengthening Communities
Empowering communities to lead their own development and hold the state accountable.
Explore Strategy →Community Philanthropy
Advocating for the growth of formal and informal philanthropic giving in Zambia.
Explore Strategy →Social Media Highlights
All Highlights
We’re really having a fantastic time at the Show! Our stand at the COMESA Exhibition Village is filled with all things youth entrepreneurship. Our youth groups are involved in a myriad of entrepreneurial activities that we are showcasing this year. And guess what? We have brought a demo Entrepreneurship Train for you to see! 🙃🙃🙃 All you have to do is find us at the 98th Agricultural & Commercial Show. Spot the green and white balloons to find us. ☺️☺️☺️ @top fans
Take a glimpse of what we're showcasing at this year's show. From our exhibition at Cosmas Michelo Hall to the innovative products on display by our youth groups at the COMESA Exhibition Village, there's plenty to see and experience. If you're attending the show, be sure to stop by our stands, meet the team, and learn more about how we're supporting community-led development and youth entrepreneurship. We look forward to seeing you! #ACSZ2026 #ZGF #TradeAndInvestment #CommunityLedDevelopment #YouthEntrepreneurship
Day 2 at the 98th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show! We're back for another exciting day of connecting, sharing, and showcasing the impact of community-led development. Visit the Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF) at Cosmas Michelo Hall to learn more about our work and don't miss our youth groups exhibiting their innovative products at the COMESA Exhibition Village. We look forward to welcoming you! #ACSZ2026 #ZGF #TradeAndInvestment #CommunityLedDevelopment #YouthEntrepreneurship @topfans
Featured Initiatives
Explore some of the local solutions we are supporting across Zambia.
The Reverse Call for Proposals
Reverse Call for Proposals (RCfP) The Reverse Call for Proposals (RCfP) is an innovative participatory grantmaking approach that shifts the traditional power dynamics of funding by placing communities at the centre of decision-making. Unlike conventional grant processes where funders define priorities and organizations submit applications, the RCfP enables communities to identify their own needs, propose solutions, and determine which initiatives should receive support. Through the RCfP, ZGF works with community foundations and local actors to mobilize local knowledge, strengthen community ownership, and support locally driven solutions. The approach recognizes that communities are best placed to understand their challenges and opportunities, and therefore should have a meaningful role in directing resources towards initiatives that matter most to them. The RCfP promotes transparency, inclusion, and trust by involving community members in identifying priorities, reviewing proposals, and making funding decisions. It supports grassroots organizations and community groups to implement initiatives that respond to local realities while strengthening the culture of local giving and community philanthropy in Zambia. As the first Reverse Call for Proposals implemented in Zambia, the initiative represents a significant step towards shifting power within the development sector and demonstrating that communities can lead decisions about resources intended for their own development.
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The Shifting the Power Programme
So far, ZGF has worked with 50 CSOs in Zambia under the STP programme
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Youth-led Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development
ZGF has been working with youth groups in Chawama, George and Mandevu peri-urban neighbourhoods of Lusaka.
Learn MoreReady to Make a Difference?
Join us in our mission to strengthen civil society and promote good governance across Zambia. Contact us at info@zgf.org.zm for partnership inquiries.