Our Impact
At the Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF), we believe in meaningful, community-led change. Our impact reflects years of support to civil society organizations across Zambia.
How We Measure Success
Beyond numbers, our success is measured by the strength of the organizations we support and the lasting change within the communities they serve.
Supporting civil society organisations
ZGF has strengthened a growing ecosystem of CSOs that are now more resilient, credible, and community-rooted. Through flexible funding and tailored capacity support, emerging organisations have improved their governance, financial systems, and programme delivery, enabling them to expand their reach and attract new partnerships. As a result, CSOs are no longer just implementing projects. They are influencing local development agendas, responding more effectively to community needs, and sustaining their work beyond donor cycles.
Strengthening local communities
ZGF’s work has shifted communities from being passive recipients of aid to active drivers of their own development. In peri-urban areas like Lusaka, youth-led enterprises are not only creating livelihoods but also addressing critical service gaps such as waste management and sanitation. Across communities, participatory approaches have increased local ownership, strengthened trust, and produced solutions that are more relevant, inclusive, and sustainable. Communities are now more organised, more confident, and better equipped to solve their own challenges.
Building the field of local philanthropy
ZGF has played a catalytic role in growing local philanthropy in Zambia by supporting the establishment of community foundations and promoting a culture of giving. These foundations are mobilising local resources, strengthening accountability, and funding community priorities long after external support ends. This has begun to shift the development model from dependency on external donors to one where communities contribute to and sustain their own development.
Shifting power in development
ZGF’s biggest impact lies in changing who decides. Through approaches like participatory grant-making and the Reverse Call for Proposals, communities are now defining their own priorities and directly accessing funding on their own terms. This has improved the relevance and effectiveness of funded initiatives while strengthening community ownership and accountability. It also challenges traditional top-down funding models, demonstrating that locally led approaches lead to deeper, more lasting impact.
Stories of Change
Voices from the communities and organizations we work with.
"Through ZGF's Catalyst Fund support, our local CSO was able to secure funding..."
"The ABCD workshops provided by ZGF helped our community..."
"With ZGF's support, our youth-led initiative is able to carry out its purpose"
Transparency & Accountability
We are committed to full transparency in our operations. Access our annual reports, financial statements, and impact assessments.
Ready 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.