National Pension Scheme Authority

What National Pension Scheme Authority does

The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) is a statutory body established by the National Pension Scheme Act No. 40 of 1996 and operational since February 1, 2000, succeeding the Zambia National Provident Fund (ZNPF) that ran from 1966. It administers Zambia's national social security scheme, collecting mandatory pension contributions (5% employee + 5% employer, capped at K2,892.03/month) from formal-sector employers and employees across all 10 provinces. As of 2024, NAPSA served 1,103,643 active members and 44,913 active employers, collected K8.66 billion ZMW in contributions, paid K2.6 billion in benefits, and managed a K95 billion target investment portfolio spanning listed equities, government securities, corporate bonds, and wholly-owned real estate and hospitality subsidiaries (NHIL, NIHCL, LMBSC, SBPHL). Its core technology stack centers on the iCARE digital platform (launched June 16, 2025) for member and employer self-service, supplemented by ZNPF Online (legacy claims), eNAPSA (employer portal), a mobile application, and USSD *677# mobile money integration with Zamtel for informal-sector accessibility. NAPSA's business model is statutory: revenue is derived from mandatory recurring contributions, investment returns, and subsidiary operating income; pricing is not market-determined but set by legislation. The Authority extends coverage to informal-sector workers through the ECIS program via partnerships with trade unions, the ILO, the Finnish Government, and the Road Traffic and Safety Agency, and offers differentiated products including retirement, invalidity, survivor and funeral benefits, maternity benefits, the Pre-Retirement Benefit (PRB), and Weather Index Insurance (K50 premium for K500 maximum payout). Distribution combines 41+ physical branches, digital self-service, agent networks, and employer compliance enforcement (compliance certificates required for government tenders and business licenses).

Name

National Pension Scheme Authority

Legal name

National Pension Scheme Authority

Website

https://napsa.co.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) is Zambia's statutory pension administrator, collecting mandatory 5%+5% contributions from formal-sector employers and employees, and serving 1.1 million active members and 44,913 active employers across all 10 provinces via its iCARE digital platform, 41+ branches, and the ECIS informal-sector program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pension Fund Administration

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro primary industry

Pensions & Retirement Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pension Master Trusts, Superannuation & Provident Funds (FSAAAGAB), Disability & Leave Administration (STD/LTD/FMLA/Paid Leave) (HLAEALAM), Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance (FSAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Pension administration
• Social security benefits
• Retirement savings
• Employer compliance services
• Informal sector pension

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pension Contributions - Formal Sector: Mandatory contributions from formal sector employees and employers. Each contributes 5% of gross monthly earnings, with employer responsible for remitting both portions to NAPSA. Monthly ceiling applies (K2,892.03 for standard employment).
2. Pension Contributions - Informal Sector (ECIS): Voluntary but encouraged contributions from informal sector workers with flexible payment options (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual). Minimum contribution of K100 per month for informal sector.
3. Investment Returns: Returns from investment portfolio including dividends from listed equities (e.g., BAT Zambia shares), rental income from real estate subsidiaries, and interest income from government securities and corporate bonds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) administers Zambia's statutory social security scheme, collecting mandatory pension contributions (5% employee + 5% employer) from formal sector workers and voluntary contributions from informal sector workers, then paying retirement, invalidity, survivor, maternity, and funeral benefits. It operates a digital platform (iCARE) for member and employer self-service, and invests the accumulated fund across listed equities, government securities, corporate bonds, and real estate subsidiaries to generate returns for members.

Product overview

National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) operates a comprehensive digital pension administration ecosystem in Zambia. The core platform is iCARE, a digital self-service portal enabling members and employers to manage accounts, submit contributions, track benefits, and access services. Supporting platforms include ZNPF Online for legacy fund claims, the Contribution Calculator for estimating payments, and the eRecruitment Portal for career opportunities. The ECIS (Extension of Coverage to Informal Sector) program extends coverage to informal workers through flexible contribution options. Key benefits include retirement pensions, invalidity benefits, survivor benefits, Pre-Retirement Benefit (PRB), Weather Index Insurance, and funeral grants. The organization also operates a Compliance Certificate system for employers, an Integrity Reporting System for whistleblower reports, and a Procurement Portal for vendor engagement. All services are governed by the National Pension Scheme Act No. 40 of 1996 and subsequent amendments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iCARE: Digital platform for pension administration empowering members with tools for managing KYC, contributions, tracking benefits, and accessing pension services.
• ECIS
• ZNPF Online
• Zambia Kuchalo Wealth Fund

Products and services

• NAPSA Retirement Pension Scheme (NPS) Mandatory statutory pension scheme for formal sector employees and employers, providing retirement, invalidity, and survivor benefits. Employee contributes 5% of gross earnings, employer contributes 5%, with monthly ceiling of K2,892.03. Benefits include monthly pension (120 months) or lump-sum at retirement age (60 years normal, 55 years early, 65 years late).
• ECIS (Extension of Coverage to the Informal Sector) Voluntary pension program for informal sector workers including bus/taxi drivers, sawmillers, small-scale farmers, marketeers, and traders. Offers flexible contribution options (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual) with minimum K100/month. Provides access to retirement, invalidity, survivor, maternity benefits, weather index insurance, and family funeral grants.
• Pre-Retirement Benefit (PRB) Benefit allowing members to access 20% of their total contributions as capital to start or expand a business while continuing to contribute to their pension. Requires 60 months of contributions regardless of age, or 45 years and above regardless of contribution count.
• Weather Index Insurance Insurance product for ECIS (informal sector) members protecting against weather-related risks including drought, dry spells, and excessive rainfall. Premium of K50 provides maximum payout of K500 with claims paid automatically based on monitored weather conditions. Registration open December to March annually.
• NAPSA Compliance Certificate Official document issued to employers confirming compliance with NAPSA contribution obligations. Required for government tenders, licenses, and formal contracts. Valid for 30 days and verifiable online through the iCARE portal.
• ZNPF Online Claims System Online claims processing system for National Provident Fund (ZNPF) benefits from the legacy 1966-2000 scheme. Enables members to access their accrued ZNPF benefits digitally, with minimum access age lowered from 50 to 36 years under the 2022 Amendment Act.
• Funeral Grants Grants paid to eligible beneficiaries upon the death of a contributing member, or to the member upon a beneficiary's death. Available to both formal and informal sector scheme members.
• Maternity Benefits Benefits paid to female members with at least 12 contributions in the last 36 months before the birth of a child. Available under both formal and informal sector schemes.
• Invalidity Benefits Benefits paid to members under 60 with certified permanent invalidity, who meet the requirements as prescribed. Available to both formal and informal sector scheme members.
• Survivor Benefits Benefits paid to eligible relatives (spouses, children, or registered dependants) upon the death of a pensioner or contributing member. Includes survivor lump sum and survivor pension.
• Access to Credit Partnership with financial institutions through MOUs to provide NAPSA members access to credit, leveraging pension contributions as collateral or qualification criteria. Terms and conditions apply.
• NAPSA Procurement Portal Portal providing access to NAPSA procurement opportunities, bidding documents, and guidelines following the Public Procurement Act No. 8 of 2020. Includes tender notices for infrastructure, services, goods, and consultancies.
• Contribution Calculator Online self-service tool enabling members to calculate their monthly NAPSA contributions based on gross monthly salary and contribution year, applying statutory contribution ceilings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42% employer compliance rate (up from 27%)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partnership to promote integrity and whistleblower protections. NAPSA participated in International Whistleblowers' Day commemoration hosted by ACC with UNDP support.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Development partner supporting integrity initiatives and whistleblower protection programs in Zambia.
• Lusaka Fitness SquadflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Partnership for the inaugural NAPSA Pensioners Marathon. Lusaka Fitness Squad provides technical expertise and community mobilization for the event expected to attract 3,000 participants.
• ZamtelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Zamtel (Zambia's telecommunications company) to enhance NAPSA coverage, particularly for informal sector workers and mobile-based transactions.
• Zambia Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to promote employer compliance and expand formal sector coverage through Chamber member businesses.
• Zambia National Farmers UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to extend social security coverage to agricultural workers and small-scale farmers through the ECIS program.
• Zambia Development BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide access to credit for NAPSA members, leveraging pension contributions as collateral or qualification criteria.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partnership supporting NAPSA's ECIS program for extending social security to the informal sector. ILO provides guidance on international best practices for social protection.
• Finnish GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner supporting NAPSA's efforts to extend social security coverage to the informal sector through technical assistance and capacity building.
• Marketeers and Traders AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to register and facilitate contributions for marketeers and traders in informal markets across Zambia.
• Domestic Workers UnioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with union representing domestic workers to facilitate registration and ongoing contribution compliance for household employers.
• Association for Employers of Domestic WorkerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to support household employers in meeting NAPSA compliance obligations for domestic workers.
• Road Traffic and Safety AgencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to register and cover bus and taxi drivers under the ECIS informal sector program.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Madison Life Insurance Zambia: Local Zambian insurer offering life, retirement, and group schemes that compete for voluntary pension business overlapping NAPSA's formal-sector employer offerings. Comparable at the product level though commercial rather than statutory.

Direct peers

• Parastatal Pensions Fund (PPF) Tanzania: Tanzania's statutory pension scheme administrator for parastatal and increasingly broader formal-sector workers. Comparable as a regional East African pension administrator with similar benefit categories and investment mandate.
• Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB): Rwanda's integrated social security body administering pension, healthcare, and occupational risk schemes with mandatory contributions. Comparable in scale ambition, mobile/digital-first service model, and informal-sector extension efforts.
• National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Kenya: Kenya's national social security administrator with a similar statutory mandate to collect mandatory contributions, manage retirement/invalidity/survivor benefits, and invest member funds. Most directly comparable peer by structure, regulatory backing, and product mix in East Africa.
• National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's statutory pension and social insurance administrator covering retirement, invalidity, and survivor benefits under mandatory contributions. Highly comparable given similar Southern African regulatory model and parallel benefit design.
• Caisse de Sécurité Sociale (CSS) Senegal: Senegal's national social security institution managing formal-sector pension contributions and family/medical benefits. Comparable Francophone-African statutory social security administrator with similar pooled-fund investment model.
• National Pension Commission (PenCom) Nigeria: Regulator and administrator of Nigeria's Contributory Pension Scheme, overseeing pension fund administrators and custodians. Comparable regulator/governance function in a larger African pension market with similar mandatory contribution architecture.

Others

• International Labour Organization (ILO): UN agency supporting extension of social security coverage; NAPSA's ECIS program is supported by ILO technical assistance. Functions as an enabling partner rather than a peer, but shapes NAPSA's informal-sector strategy and international benchmarking.
• International Social Security Association (ISSA): Global umbrella body for social security institutions; NAPSA is an ISSA member and draws on its technical guidance. Relevant as an industry association peer and knowledge peer, not a commercial competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Old Mutual Emerging Markets (Zambia): Dominant Zambian financial services group offering life insurance, pensions, asset management and investments. Operates in NAPSA's market with overlapping retirement and disability products but as a private-sector incumbent rather than a statutory administrator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YourNAPSA
• Xx.com/MyNAPSA

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Pension Scheme Authority