Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT)

What Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT) does

Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT) is a Zimbabwe-based non-profit trust founded circa 2014 and headquartered at 59 Mendel Road, Avondale, Harare. Operating with a staff of approximately 6 under Executive Director Judith Kaulem and a Board of Trustees, the organization's stated mission is to inform and influence policy toward poverty reduction and sustainable human development through research, advocacy, and public dialogue. PRFT's core analytical instrument is the Basic Needs Basket (BNB) programme — a longitudinal research methodology that tracks urban and rural cost-of-living indicators across Zimbabwe and underpins regular BNB reports, thematic studies, policy briefs, and analysis of government health spending, monetary policy, and socioeconomic conditions.

PRFT delivers its work through three programmes: Research (thematic studies and BNB monitoring), Public Dialogue (multi-city consultative forums held in Harare, Mutare, Gweru, and Shurugwi), and Capacity Building for civil society partners. Outputs are distributed as free downloads via the PRFT website (prftzim.org), supported by an email newsletter, Facebook and Twitter (@PRFTZim) accounts, YouTube/Google+, and in-person convening events. The organization coordinates the Zimbabwe CSOs-SDGs Reference Group, a civil society coalition supporting Sustainable Development Goal monitoring and advocacy.

Commercially, PRFT does not generate revenue through a pricing model. It is a trust funded through partnerships with development actors and engagement in the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) 2016-2020. Strategic alliances include co-hosting a side event at the UN High Level Political Forum in New York in July 2017 with CAFOD, SightSavers, and Together 2030, and ongoing collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe's Ministry of Macroeconomic Planning and Investment Promotion on SDG prioritization and pro-poor policy formulation. No parent company, subsidiaries, equity funding, or commercial revenue streams are disclosed.

Name

Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT)

Legal name

Poverty Reduction Forum Trust

Website

https://prftzim.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PRFT is a Zimbabwe-based non-profit trust that conducts policy research, advocacy, and public dialogue on poverty reduction. It operates the Basic Needs Basket programme tracking cost of living and engages government, civil society, and UN partners on SDG implementation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment (BPADADAL)

Keywords

• Poverty research
• Policy advocacy
• Civil society
• Sustainable development
• Basic needs basket

Headquarters

HQ city

Harare

HQ country

Zimbabwe

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PRFT conducts policy research and advocacy aimed at poverty reduction and sustainable human development in Zimbabwe. Its core offering is the Basic Needs Basket (BNB) research programme, which tracks urban and rural cost-of-living and produces press statements, policy briefs, and analytical reports on government health spending, monetary policy, and socioeconomic conditions. The trust also delivers public dialogue forums and capacity building for civil society organizations.

Product overview

Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT) is a Zimbabwe-based non-profit organization focused on poverty reduction and sustainable human development. Rather than a technology product company, PRFT operates as a research and policy advocacy organization offering a portfolio of research programmes, public dialogue initiatives, and capacity building services. The core offerings include the Research Programme (covering thematic research and Basic Needs Basket monitoring), Public Dialogue Programme for consultative engagement, and Capacity Building Programme for civil society. PRFT produces various publications including BNB Reports tracking cost of living, Thematic Research Reports, Policy Briefs, Workshop Reports, Programme Reports, and Newsletters. The organization also coordinates the Zim CSOs-SDGs Reference Group supporting civil society engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals agenda.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Programme A core programme of PRFT that conducts thematic research and the Basic Needs Basket (BNB) research on poverty-related issues to inform policy development in Zimbabwe, covering both Urban and Rural Basic Needs Baskets and generating reports on government health spending, monetary policy, and socioeconomic conditions.
• Public Dialogue Programme A core programme of PRFT that facilitates broad-based consultative dialogue and public engagement on poverty reduction and development issues, organising socio-economic dialogue series and workshops in Zimbabwean cities such as Harare, Mutare, Gweru, and Shurugwi.
• Capacity Building Programme A core programme of PRFT that builds the capacity of civil society organisations and communities to participate in poverty reduction and development processes, including training, workshops, and skills development for CSO partners.
• Basic Needs Basket (BNB) Reports PRFT's flagship research publication tracking urban and rural basic needs basket costs in Zimbabwe, monitoring cost of living, rental fees, and economic conditions as a systematic poverty measurement tool available as free downloads from the PRFT website.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAFODcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRFT co-hosted a side event with CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) at the UN High Level Political Forum in July 2017, focused on SDG implementation and civil society engagement in Zimbabwe's development processes.
• SightSaverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRFT co-hosted a side event with SightSavers at the UN High Level Political Forum in July 2017, alongside CAFOD and Together 2030, to discuss SDG progress and civil society's role in Zimbabwe.
• Together 2030minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTogether 2030 is a civil society coalition that partnered with PRFT and SightSavers for the HLPF side event in July 2017, contributing to discussions on SDG accountability and monitoring in Zimbabwe.
• Zimbabwe CSOs-SDGs Reference GroupcoreOthersPRFT coordinates the Zimbabwe CSOs-SDGs Reference Group, a coalition of civil society organisations that collectively monitors and advocates for SDG implementation in Zimbabwe, engaging with government and UN frameworks.
• Government of Zimbabwe (Ministry of Macroeconomic Planning and Investment Promotion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRFT works with the Government of Zimbabwe's Ministry of Macroeconomic Planning and Investment Promotion, which oversees SDG prioritisation (10 SDGs) and national development planning. PRFT provides policy research and budget submissions to inform government policy.
• United Nations (UN) System in ZimbabwecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRFT participates in the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) 2016-2020, contributing civil society perspectives to the UN's six result areas aligned to SDGs. The UN system supports national development efforts including poverty reduction, food and nutrition, and social protection.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD): Zimbabwean civil society coalition focused on economic policy, public debt, and pro-poor development advocacy. Directly comparable to PRFT in operating as a local policy research and advocacy organization targeting government economic policy in Zimbabwe.
• Afrobarometer: Pan-African research network that publishes survey data on governance, economic conditions, and livelihoods across African countries. Comparable to PRFT in producing recurring, methodologically standardized research outputs that inform policy debate and civil society advocacy.
• Southern Africa Trust: Regional civil society organization that commissions and disseminates policy research on poverty, inequality, and sustainable development in Southern Africa. Comparable to PRFT in mission, research-driven advocacy model, and engagement with SADC-level development frameworks.
• TrustAfrica: Pan-African foundation that funds and conducts policy research on governance, economic equity, and sustainable development. Comparable to PRFT in operating as a philanthropic research and advocacy organization focused on African development policy.
• Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean civil society organization producing policy research and analysis on governance, economic policy, and social issues. Comparable to PRFT as a domestic policy research and advocacy outfit engaging directly with government and civil society.

Broad incumbents

• ActionAid International: Global anti-poverty federation operating in Zimbabwe with policy advocacy, research, and grassroots mobilization on poverty and inequality. Comparable to PRFT in poverty-focused advocacy model, though operating multi-nationally and at significant scale.
• CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development): Large UK-based international development agency that funds poverty reduction and advocacy work in developing countries including Zimbabwe. Comparable to PRFT as a partner working on SDG implementation and pro-poor policy advocacy, though operating at far greater scale.
• African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP): UN-affiliated institute providing capacity building and policy research for African governments on economic development planning. Comparable to PRFT's combination of policy research and capacity building, though operating at a continental scale and as a UN institution.
• Oxfam Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe country office of Oxfam, conducting policy research and advocacy on inequality, social protection, and pro-poor policy. Closest local peer to PRFT in terms of in-country poverty research and policy influence, though backed by a global confederation.

Emerging players

• International Budget Partnership: Global organization that partners with local civil society actors to build capacity for public budget analysis and pro-poor fiscal advocacy. Comparable to PRFT as a partner in the budget accountability and SDG accountability ecosystem, with overlapping funder and constituency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PRFTZim
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTLrF6h89RSMiHnrKemAZCQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/PovertyReductionForumTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poverty-reduction-forum-trust-prft-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT)