The Smart Zambia Institute

Name

The Smart Zambia Institute

Legal name

Smart Zambia Institute

Website

https://szi.gov.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Digital Services / E-Government Infrastructure

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals) (BPAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government (BPAIAAAH), Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)

Keywords

• E-government services
• National digital identity
• Electronic health records
• Geospatial data infrastructure
• Government service portal

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Core funding from Zambian government treasury as a division under the Office of the President. Established through Government Gazette notice No 836 of 2016.
2. World Bank Digital Zambia Acceleration Project: $100 million World Bank-funded project supporting digital ID rollout, digital infrastructure, and national digital transformation initiatives.
3. International Development Partner Funding: Funding from international organizations including ITU and Government of Norway for specific digital capacity building initiatives like the Digital Transformation Centre Project.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Smart Zambia Institute, operating as the E-Government Division under the Office of the President of Zambia, coordinates and delivers electronic government services through proprietary digital platforms including Zamportal, ZNSDI Geoportal, E-Passport, E-Payslip, ZamPass authentication, SmartCare Pro EHR, and a homegrown national Digital ID system. Its core offering is centralized digital public infrastructure that enables government ministries, citizens, and businesses to access and deliver public services electronically. The Institute also manages the $100 million World Bank-funded Digital Zambia Acceleration Project and a nationwide network of 50 provincial and district units supporting service rollout.

Product overview

The Smart Zambia Institute operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture delivering e-government services. The core platform consists of citizen-facing portals including Zamportal (service delivery), Citizen Support Portal (feedback/reporting), E-Payslip (HR services), and E-Passport (travel document processing), all unified under the ZamPass national authentication layer. Supporting infrastructure includes the ZNSDI Geoportal for geospatial data sharing and the Executive Dashboard for data-driven governance. Major initiatives under the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP) include the national Digital ID System and SmartCare Pro Electronic Health Records. The Government Wide Area Network provides connectivity backbone, with Starlink satellite kits being deployed for last-mile access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zamportal: Government's online service delivery portal providing access to various government services
• Citizen Support Portal
• E-Passport
• E-Payslip
• ZNSDI Geoportal
• ZamPass
• SmartCare Pro
• Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP)

Products and services

• Zamportal Government Service Portal Centralized online government service delivery portal providing citizens and businesses with electronic access to a range of public services, including service request forms processed within 48 hours.
• Citizen Support Portal Centralized hub where citizens can access government services, information, and resources, and submit feedback or report service delivery challenges to government.
• E-Passport System Electronic passport system enabling streamlined digital application, processing, and issuance of Zambian passports.
• E-Payslip Portal Electronic payslip platform that allows civil servants to access their payslips from anywhere via mobile phone or computer with internet connection.
• ZamPass National Authentication National authentication and access control service that unifies access to governmental electronic services through a single sign-on and identity verification layer.
• ZNSDI Geoportal Zambia National Spatial Data Infrastructure Geoportal providing centralized access to up-to-date geospatial information, interactive maps, and datasets for planning, research, and evidence-based decision-making across agriculture, land administration, disaster management, and infrastructure development.
• Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP) $100 million World Bank-funded initiative to advance Zambia's digital transformation, including rollout of the homegrown national Digital ID system, digital infrastructure, and digital economy inclusion targeting 80% participation by end of 2026.
• Homegrown National Digital ID System National digital identification system designed to make Zambians 'bankable' by enabling financial inclusion and access to services through verified identification, developed under the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project.
• SmartCare Pro Electronic Health Record System Electronic health record system deployed across more than 2,000 health facilities nationwide, with 30,000 healthcare workers trained and approximately 50% of national footprint covered; transitioning to full government ownership.
• eVIN-Adapted Medicines Supply Chain Platform Platform adapted from India's Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) for Zambia's essential medicines supply chain, designed to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chain visibility and reduce wastage and stockouts at ZAMMSA.
• Executive Dashboard Dashboard system providing executive-level data visualization and decision-making support across government, currently undergoing expansion and rollout.
• Government Wide Area Network (GovWAN) Government connectivity backbone network being expanded using satellite-based internet solutions including Starlink for remote area last-mile access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% digital economy inclusion targeted by end of 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HuaweicoreTechnology or Integration · 8 June 2026Zambian government signed MoU with Huawei for AI infrastructure deployment across 25 government ministries. Partnership includes co-investment in a national data center for domestic storage of critical government data. Huawei will train approximately 5,000 young Zambians in digital skills over three years through the Huawei Global Academy. Described as development-oriented and reinforcement of Huawei's two-decade relationship with Zambia.
• UNDP Zambia and UNDP IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026South-South cooperation framework to adapt India's Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) platform for Zambia's essential medicines supply chain. Technical mission in Lusaka (May 18-22, 2026) involving Ministry of Health, ZAMMSA, and Smart Zambia Institute. Aims to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chain visibility, reduce wastage and stockouts, and improve data-driven accountability.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026Strategic partnership to accelerate digital transformation and advance child-focused technology solutions in Zambia. High-level meeting held in Lusaka exploring cooperation in leveraging digital tools to improve public services and outcomes for children and young people. Aligns with Zambia's e-government initiatives and UNICEF's mission to leverage technology for children's welfare.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Transformation Centre (DTC) Project Phase II supported by ITU and funded by the Government of Norway. Two-day capacity-building training for Youth Resource Centre Managers to strengthen digital, technical, operational, and administrative skills. Initiative reflects commitment to building digital capacity and promoting digital inclusion.
• Czech Republic (Kwenyu Pact)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Czech Republic under the Kwenyu Pact supporting Zambia's digital transformation initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI / Aadhaar): Operator of the world's largest national digital ID system covering over a billion residents. Directly comparable as a state-run identity platform that enables financial inclusion and government service delivery, and source of the eVIN model Smart Zambia is adapting.
• Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC): Operator of Nigeria's National Identity Number (NIN) and national ID database, with a mandate to enable financial inclusion and government service delivery. Analogous African peer focused on the foundational ID layer Smart Zambia is building.
• e-Estonia / Estonian Information System Authority (RIA): Global benchmark for national digital ID, e-government, and interoperability (X-Road). While more mature, the Estonian model of a centrally coordinated digital state directly informs Zambia's architecture and provides a public-sector peer for capability benchmarking.
• Huawei Smart Government: Technology partner and supplier of AI infrastructure, national data center capacity, and digital skills training under the June 2026 MoU. Comparable as the dominant global vendor in African e-government infrastructure, with whom the Institute has a deep commercial and strategic relationship.

Regional players

• Botswana Government Information Technology (BGCIS / Department of Information Technology): Botswana's central government body responsible for government-wide IT coordination and citizen service portals. Functionally analogous as a smaller, more mature SADC peer with established e-government platforms.

Direct peers

• Kenya ICT Authority (ICTA): State corporation under Kenya's Ministry of ICT mandated to enforce ICT standards, coordinate e-government services, and manage digital infrastructure across government — closest structural analogue in the East African region.
• Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA): Rwanda's central government agency coordinating national ICT and e-government services, including digital ID (Irembo) and Smart Rwanda initiatives. Directly comparable in mandate to coordinate digital transformation across ministries on behalf of the presidency.
• National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U): Uganda's statutory body coordinating IT services, e-government, and national backbone infrastructure under the Ministry of ICT. Similar mandate in coordinating service delivery digitalization across government agencies.
• Tanzania e-Government Authority (eGA): Tanzania's dedicated authority for e-government implementation, including the national e-identification system (NIDA) and integrated government service portals. Comparable in scope and in operating under a statutory digital government mandate.

Emerging players

• Mezzanine: South African GovTech firm and named Smart Zambia partner, providing digital solutions for governments and enterprises across Africa. Comparable as a private-sector GovTech vendor that the Institute may either partner with or compete against for ministry contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-zambia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The Smart Zambia Institute