Zambia Red Cross Society

What Zambia Red Cross Society does

Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) is a humanitarian organization established in 1966 by Act of Parliament (Societies Act Cap 307) and operating as an auxiliary to the Government of Zambia, with the Republican President serving as Patron. It is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, affiliated with IFRC, ICRC, and 191 sister National Societies. The organization delivers services through five core programs: Health and Care (WASH, hygiene promotion, community-based health resilience), First Aid Training (TEVETA-accredited CPR, Basic and Advanced First Aid, Fire Marshal courses), Disaster Management (mitigation, response, recovery, and Restoring Family Links), Branch Development (67 branches across all 10 provinces with over 8,000 volunteers), Business Development (ZRCS Training Centre, refurbished ZRCS Lodge, and National Warehouse), and a Youth Impact Hub.

The underlying technology stack is oriented around humanitarian service delivery rather than commercial software. It includes the Impact Based Forecasting (IBF) system integrated with the Global Flood Awareness System (GLOFAS) for flood prediction, an Early Action Protocol (EAP) for anticipatory resource mobilization, a Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) program that has reached over 15,000 families since 2020, and Restoring Family Links tools including the Trace the Face platform, Red Cross Messages, and the RedSafe application introduced with ICRC in 2025.

ZRCS is funded through a hybrid model: institutional grants from international Red Cross movement partners (Netherlands, Belgian, American, Italian, Japanese Red Cross, IFRC, ICRC), bilateral donors (European Union via ECHO, FCDO, Mastercard Foundation/Africa CDC, FAO, FNB Zambia Foundation, UNHCR), domestic donations, corporate partnerships (Coca-Cola, Nestle), and self-generated revenue from First Aid training, lodge accommodation, training centre services, and First Aid kit sales. Customer segments span government ministries (Health, Water Development, Labour, DMMU), corporate entities (Embassy of Sweden, FNB Zambia, and others purchasing workplace First Aid training), disaster-affected and vulnerable communities, refugees in Mantapala, Meheba, and Makeni settlements, and youth volunteers.

Name

Zambia Red Cross Society

Legal name

Zambia Red Cross Society

Website

https://redcross.org.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zambia Red Cross Society is a Zambian statutory humanitarian organization founded in 1966, delivering disaster response, health, First Aid training, and family tracing services through 67 branches, 8,000+ volunteers, and partnerships with IFRC, ICRC, and bilateral donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

Keywords

• Humanitarian services
• Disaster response
• First aid training
• Community health programs
• Water and sanitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and international partners to fund humanitarian programs and disaster response activities.
2. First Aid Training Services: Revenue generated from providing First Aid training courses to corporate entities and individuals, including CPR, Basic First Aid, Advanced First Aid, and Fire Marshal training. Also includes sale of First Aid boxes, kits, refills, emergency stretchers, and reference materials.
3. Business Development Ventures: Revenue-generating initiatives including the ZRCS Training Centre and newly refurbished ZRCS Lodge providing accommodation services, as well as the ZRCS National Warehouse for emergency preparedness and supply chain management.
4. International Partner Funding: Funding from international Red Cross movement partners including IFRC, ICRC, Netherlands Red Cross, Belgian Red Cross, American Red Cross, and other bilateral donors for specific humanitarian programs and disaster response.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) is a humanitarian organization delivering disaster response, health and care services, First Aid training, Restoring Family Links (RFL), and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programs across Zambia. It operates 67 branches in all 10 provinces with over 8,000 volunteers, functioning as an auxiliary to the Government of Zambia under the Societies Act Cap 307. Earned revenue comes from First Aid training courses and lodge/training centre facilities, while program funding comes from international Red Cross movement partners and institutional donors.

Product overview

Zambia Red Cross Society is a humanitarian organization that operates as a platform of interconnected services rather than a traditional software product. Its core offerings include Health & Care Services (WASH, Hygiene Promotion, Community Based Health Resilience), First Aid Training (CPR, Basic and Advanced First Aid, Fire Marshal courses), Disaster Management (mitigation, response, recovery, and Restoring Family Links), Branch Development (67 branches across 10 provinces), Business Development (Training Centre, Lodge, National Warehouse), and Youth Impact Hub. These services are delivered through a nationwide volunteer network of over 8,000 volunteers and operate as complementary humanitarian programs supporting communities across Zambia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health & Care Services Essential health and care services including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Hygiene Promotion, and Community Based Health Resilience programs aimed at building community resilience to health emergencies. Targeted at vulnerable communities across Zambia.
• First Aid Training TEVETA-accredited First Aid training including CPR (1 day), Basic First Aid (2 days), Advanced First Aid (5 days), and Fire Marshal Short Courses, with internationally recognized certification affiliated with the Global First Aid Reference Centre (GFARC). Targeted at corporate entities, government agencies, and individuals needing workplace safety certification.
• Disaster Management Services Comprehensive disaster management services covering Mitigation and Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Cash and Voucher Assistance. Includes early warning systems like the Impact Based Forecasting tool, National Disaster Response Teams, and cash preparedness activities. Targeted at disaster-affected communities across Zambia.
• Restoring Family Links (RFL) Services for families separated by armed conflicts, disasters, and migration. Includes Red Cross Messages for secure neutral communication, Tracing Services, Family Reunification, RFL Phone Calls, the Trace the Face platform, and free Wi-Fi/charging stations. Targeted at refugees and displaced persons in Mantapala, Meheba, and Makeni settlements.
• Branch Network and Community Development Nationwide network of 67 active branches across all 10 provinces, led by Branch Executive Committees and supported by Volunteer Aid Units for emergency response, health outreach, and local development. Includes membership engagement of over 2,500 paid-up members and 8,000+ volunteers.
• Business Development Facilities Flagship projects including the ZRCS Training Centre, the newly refurbished ZRCS Lodge providing accommodation services, and the ZRCS National Warehouse for emergency preparedness and supply chain management. Supports revenue generation and logistical operations.
• Youth Impact Hub Youth engagement platform to nurture young leaders and amplify their role in humanitarian action, providing opportunities for youth empowerment, humanitarian education, drug abuse prevention, and leadership development. Youth represents 74% of the volunteer base.
• Fire Marshal Short Course One-day TEVETA-accredited Fire Marshal training course delivered in collaboration with the Fire Service Association of Zambia, providing certification upon successful completion. Targeted at workplace safety officers and corporate fire marshals.
• Event First Aid Coverage Services First Aid coverage provided at public and corporate sporting events, leveraging ZRCS's trained volunteers and First Aid expertise to deliver emergency response services at venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ vulnerable families received cash assistance since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, regional and minor.

• ICRC (for RedSafe Application)majorTechnology or Integration · 24 July 2025Partnership for introducing RedSafe application among displaced communities. Stakeholder workshop held with UNHCR, Caritas, ZAPD, Ministry of Education, DMMU, and Zambia Police.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZRCS is part of the global Red Cross movement affiliated with IFRC. IFRC provides funding, technical support, and coordination for disaster response and development programs. Supports cash assistance, WASH interventions, and epidemic preparedness.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICRC supports Restoring Family Links programs and protection services for refugees and displaced persons. Collaborates on RedSafe application introduction and humanitarian protection initiatives.
• Netherlands Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner supporting drought response, livelihood programs, WASH facilities, and capacity building. Provided support for IBF system development and Early Action Protocols. Country Representative Jo-Lind Roberts-Sene resident in Zambia.
• Belgian Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting humanitarian programs and disaster response initiatives in Zambia.
• American Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral partner in the Red Cross movement supporting humanitarian initiatives.
• Italian Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Cross movement partner contributing to humanitarian programs.
• Kenya Red Cross SocietyregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Red Cross partner within the African movement for collaboration and mutual support.
• Japanese Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports OVC (Orphan and Vulnerable Children) project in Kapiri Mposhi, including tree planting initiative worth ZMW 55,000.
• Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing mandate for health interventions. ZRCS collaborates on cholera response, CATI approach, health programs, and maternal health initiatives. Donated 12,000 hygiene kits worth ZMW 2,880,000.
• Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment unit for disaster management. ZRCS collaborates on media training, cholera response, and disaster preparedness activities.
• Ministry of Water Development and SanitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-year MoU signed June 2025 for WASH collaboration aligned with Vision 2030 and SDG 6. Addresses water and sanitation infrastructure gaps.
• WaterAidmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting water and sanitation programs and hygiene promotion initiatives.
• World Wide Fund (WWF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental conservation partner for climate and environmental programs.
• Coca-ColaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting humanitarian programs and community initiatives.
• NestleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner for nutrition and health-related initiatives.
• People in NeedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO partner for humanitarian and development programs.
• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting refugee programs through RFL services, refugee settlement support at Mantapala, Meheba, and Makeni.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kenya Red Cross Society: East African sister National Society within the IFRC network, explicitly partnered with ZRCS. Operates the same humanitarian mandate (disaster response, First Aid training, health, refugee support) with a comparable volunteer-led branch model across multiple counties.
• Tanzania Red Cross Society: East African sister society operating a similar humanitarian mandate including refugee services (notably for Burundian and Congolese refugees), First Aid training, and disaster preparedness.
• Malawi Red Cross Society: Neighboring National Society with similar size, volunteer structure, and humanitarian programs including First Aid, WASH, and disaster response in a comparable Southern African context.
• World Vision Zambia: Major INGO operating in Zambia alongside ZRCS across WASH, health, child protection, and disaster response. Competes for similar donor pools and government partnerships in overlapping geographies.
• Zimbabwe Red Cross Society: Sister National Society in a neighboring country with matching structure (auxiliary to government, branch network, volunteer base) and overlapping humanitarian programs.
• Mozambique Red Cross: Southern African sister society that hosted ZRCS at the SAPRCS meeting. Comparable auxiliary-to-government humanitarian mandate, branch network, and exposure to climate-driven disasters (cyclones, floods).
• CARE International in Zambia: INGO active in Zambia with overlapping programs in food security, WASH, women's empowerment, and disaster response, drawing on comparable bilateral and multilateral donor funding.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: One of the largest National Societies globally and an explicit bilateral partner to ZRCS. Operates a far broader portfolio (blood services, military support, large-scale disaster response) but shares the same Movement mandate and training/First Aid standards.
• Netherlands Red Cross: Major funding partner that co-developed ZRCS's Impact Based Forecasting system and Early Action Protocols. Operates globally with a much larger footprint and innovation focus (510 initiative, Climate Center).

Emerging players

• WaterAid Zambia: Active partner to ZRCS in WASH and hygiene promotion programs. Specializes narrowly in WASH, complementing ZRCS's broader humanitarian mandate while sharing similar donor and government relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ZambiaRedCross
• Facebookfacebook.com/redcross.org.zm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zambia-red-cross-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zambia Red Cross Society