Zambia Alliance of Women

What Zambia Alliance of Women does

Zambia Alliance of Women (ZAW) is a women-led, membership-based, non-partisan non-governmental organization registered under Zambian law as a Trust. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Lusaka, ZAW operates across six Zambian provinces — Lusaka, Central, Copperbelt, Southern, Eastern, and North-Western — through a network of over 1,500 individual and organizational members and Citizen Agency Dialogue Groups (CADGs). The organization delivers three programmatic pillars: Gender and Climate Action (climate-smart agriculture, clean energy access, renewable energy training, and climate-policy advocacy), Women's Rights (land rights, gender-based violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health rights, and engagement with Zambia's extractives sector), and Participatory Governance (CADG formation, transformative leadership training, and women's political participation). ZAW is governed by a Board of Directors and operates under a Constitution and Finance and Administration Manual, with membership in the Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC).

ZAW has no technology product or SaaS offering; its core 'technology' is grassroots mobilization methodology, training curricula, and advocacy platforms. The organization serves rural women and communities, women's groups and cooperatives, civil society organizations, and individual advocates, with primary impact targets being women facing gender inequality, land exclusion, gender-based violence, climate vulnerability, and under-representation in governance.

The revenue model is donor-dependent: ZAW accepts financial contributions (subject to audit by external auditors and governed by its Finance and Administration Manual) and maintains a membership base of more than 1,500 individuals and community groups, though specific membership fees are not publicly disclosed. Disclosed funder relationships include Open Society Foundations (project-specific funding for critical-minerals gender justice work), and operational partnerships span Mthunzi Trust (Malawi cross-border collaboration), WECF, Oxfam, Southern Africa Trust, CTPD, and ZEMA. The go-to-market approach is community-led: direct grassroots mobilization, CADG facilitation, training programmes, and advocacy campaigns delivered through both online channels (website, newsletter, Facebook, LinkedIn) and in-person community engagement.

Name

Zambia Alliance of Women

Legal name

Zambia Alliance of Women

Website

https://zaw.org.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Zambia Alliance of Women is a women-led, membership-based NGO founded in 1978 that operates across six Zambian provinces to advance gender equality, women's rights, climate action, and participatory governance for rural women, women's groups, and community organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Women's Empowerment Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAD

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGABAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADAGAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

SECONDARYBPAGABAA

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

Keywords

• Women empowerment programs
• Gender equality advocacy
• Community development services
• Climate action training
• Participatory governance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Financial Contributions: ZAW accepts financial contributions from donors and supporters in support of their charitable and development mission. Contributions are used in accordance with ZAW's Finance and Administration Manual, subject to audit by external auditors.
2. Membership Fees: ZAW maintains a membership base of over 1,500 members including women's groups, cooperatives, community organizations, and individuals. While specific membership fee structures are not publicly disclosed, membership is a core component of the organization's revenue and engagement model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zambia Alliance of Women (ZAW) is a women-led, membership-based NGO that delivers community empowerment programmes organized under three pillars: Gender and Climate Action (climate-smart agriculture, clean energy access, renewable energy training), Women's Rights (land rights advocacy, gender-based violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health rights, extractives governance), and Participatory Governance (Citizen Agency Dialogue Groups and transformative leadership training). It does not sell commercial products or technology; its core offerings are free development programmes and advocacy services delivered to a membership network of over 1,500 individuals and groups across six provinces in Zambia.

Product overview

Zambia Alliance of Women (ZAW) is a women-led, membership-based NGO offering a unified portfolio of empowerment programmes rather than a commercial product platform. The organization operates three core programmatic pillars: Gender and Climate Action (agriculture, clean energy, renewable technologies), Women's Rights (land rights, GBV prevention, SRHR), and Participatory Governance (Citizen Agency Dialogue Groups, leadership training). These are supported by a membership network of over 1,500 members and a quarterly newsletter publication. ZAW does not offer technology products or SaaS offerings — its 'products' are development programmes and community empowerment initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Women equipped with climate resilience skills, improved food and energy security, and meaningful seats at the table in environmental governance
• +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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Mthunzi TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAW and Mthunzi Trust have formalized a cross-border collaboration recognizing the importance of youth empowerment, gender equality, and disability inclusion as critical pillars for sustainable development in Southern Africa. Mthunzi Trust is a youth-led NGO registered in the Republic of Malawi, dedicated to promoting the welfare, dignity, and inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities and vulnerable populations. Both organizations operate in separate legal jurisdictions (Zambia and Malawi) and are committed to a structured, compliant, and mutually beneficial framework aimed at amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, sharing knowledge and resources, developing joint programs addressing the intersection of gender, disability, and youth, and strengthening advocacy at national and regional levels.
• Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWECF collaborated with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) on a Stakeholder Dialogue Meeting focused on the role of women, men, and vulnerable populations in plastic waste management and the transition to a green economy. ZAW was represented at this dialogue.
• OxfamsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam convened a meeting in collaboration with the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD), examining the interplay between debt influence and public investment decisions in Zambia from 2015-2024. ZAW participated in this dialogue on economic policy and public spending.
• Southern Africa Trust (SAT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Africa Trust partnered with Spring Impact to host a 'Scaling Women's Empowerment' convening in Johannesburg, South Africa. ZAW was represented at this regional event focused on sharing best practices for scaling women's empowerment initiatives.
• Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTPD collaborated with Oxfam to convene a dialogue examining debt influence and public investment decisions in Zambia. ZAW participated in discussions on economic policy impacts on women and communities.
• Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerZEMA convened a Stakeholder Dialogue Meeting in collaboration with WECF, focusing on plastic waste management and the green economy transition. ZAW was represented at this government-led environmental policy dialogue.
• Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAW is a member of NGOCC, a coordinating body for NGOs in Zambia. This membership provides ZAW with sector networking, coordinated advocacy opportunities, and sector reporting connections.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF): International NGO working at the intersection of gender equality and environmental sustainability. WECF is a documented ZAW partner, making it a directly comparable organization with overlapping programmatic pillars in gender, climate, and policy advocacy.
• Mthunzi Trust: Youth-led NGO registered in Malawi focused on gender equality, disability inclusion, and youth empowerment. ZAW has formalized a cross-border partnership with Mthunzi Trust, and the two operate comparable membership-based, grassroots advocacy models in Southern Africa.
• Southern Africa Trust (SAT): Regional civil society organization supporting inclusive policy dialogue across Southern Africa, including on women's empowerment. SAT co-hosted the 'Scaling Women's Empowerment' convening attended by ZAW and operates with comparable advocacy and convening functions.
• Gender Links: Southern African NGO promoting gender equality, governance, and women's rights through policy advocacy, training, and grassroots networks. Operates with a similar membership- and movement-building model as ZAW across the SADC region.
• FEMNET (African Women's Development and Communication Network): Pan-African network advocating for women's rights and gender equality across the continent. FEMNET's continental membership network and policy advocacy focus on women's empowerment and SRHR closely mirror ZAW's programmatic pillars.
• Women for Women International: International NGO supporting women survivors of war and conflict through training, advocacy, and economic empowerment. Operates a comparable grassroots women-empowerment and rights-advocacy model, though in conflict-affected geographies rather than rural Zambia.
• Akina Mama wa Afrika: Pan-African feminist rights organization focused on women's leadership, governance, and SRHR. Operates with a comparable movement-building and policy advocacy model in the African context, with overlapping focus on women's participation in governance.

Broad incumbents

• UN Women: United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women globally. Operates with overlapping thematic priorities (gender, governance, SRHR) but at a global mandate and budget scale far exceeding ZAW's.
• CARE International: Major international humanitarian and development organization with a strong women's empowerment and gender equality portfolio, particularly in rural Africa. Operates with similar thematic focus but significantly broader scope and resources than ZAW.
• Plan International: International development and advocacy organization focused on children's rights and girls' equality. Operates with overlapping focus on girls' and women's rights, SRHR, and gender-responsive policy across multiple African countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zambia Alliance of Women