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 HighlightsWe are proud of our CEO 🙌

Change is most sustainable when it is led by the people it is meant to serve. For Mark Mike Mulaisho, the belief is a commitment that guides his work as a youth leader, development practitioner and Shifting the Power (STP) Ambassador. As a Mining Engineering student at The Copperbelt University, Mark is proving that young people can be powerful agents of change both within and beyond their fields of study. Through his leadership roles at Youth Service Zambia and Zambia National Awakening Initiative-Zambia, he has dedicated himself to creating opportunities for young people to participate in governance, community development, and decision-making processes. His experience representing Zambia at the STP debates in Ghana strengthened his conviction that communities already possess the knowledge, ideas, and solutions needed to address many of the challenges they face. What is often missing is the opportunity to be heard. Today, Mark is using his voice to champion locally led development, youth participation and community ownership of development initiatives. As part of the Shifting the Power movement, he is helping to ensure that young people are not simply consulted but are actively involved in shaping the future of their communities. "The future of development belongs to communities that are empowered to lead their own change." #ShiftingThePower #YouthLeadership @followers Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Comic Relief YORI -Youth Rise International United Nations Development Programme - UNDP Unicef Zambia

Healthy Minds. Healthy Bodies. Strong Teams. Today, ZGF takes time to invest in one of its greatest assets—its people. Our Wellness Day is an opportunity to step away from our daily routines, reconnect with one another, and prioritise our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Through team-building activities, outdoor experiences and moments of reflection, we are strengthening not only our individual wellbeing but also the relationships that enable us to work effectively together. At ZGF, we believe that a healthy and resilient team is fundamental to creating meaningful and lasting impact in the communities we serve. Here's to wellness, teamwork, and a healthier tomorrow. #ZGF #WellnessDay #HealthyMindsHealthyBodiesStrongTeams #EmployeeWellbeing #Teamwork #WorkplaceWellness
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.