Zambia Alliance of Women

Zambia Alliance of Women (ZAW) is a non-governmental membership organization for Zambian women founded in 1978 to promote gender equality, development and peace in Zambia.^[1]

History

Zambia Alliance of Women was established in 1978 to promote gender equality, development and peace.^[1] ZAW was registered under the Societies Act in March 1982.^[2] By 2011 it had 15,000 members.^[3]

ZAW has paid sustained attention to environmental issues.^[4] In April 2020 the ZAW advised small-scale farmers not to sell their maize at the cheapest prices to private buyers.^[5] In June 2020 the ZAW appealed to the government to offer help to women groups and cooperatives.^[6] ZAW's Executive Director, Edah Gondwe Chimya, also encouraged women in mining areas to take advantage of government programmes to participate in Zambia's mining sector.^[7]

Mission and Focus

The goal of ZAW is to enable women to take control of their lives by advancing social justice, environmental sustainability, and gender equity and equality so that both the current and future generations can enjoy the right to a healthy life. The three primary themes of ZAW are gender, climate action, participatory governance, and women's rights.

• Participatory Governance: In recent years, ZAW has done a great job of bringing its grassroots members into contact with the government, the private sector, and other important players including traditional leaders and civil society organizations. Social responsibility has also been successfully adopted by ZAW members.^[1]
• Gender and Climate Action: Some noteworthy initiatives that have been carried out recently include, but are not restricted to: Enhanced Voice and Agency of Women in Extractives in collaboration with OXFAM - Partnership with Southern Africa Trust for the National Dialogue on GBV - Developing Women's Leadership in Climate Resilience in Zambia in collaboration with Alina Mama Wa Afrika (AMwA) - Efficient Involvement of Women in Resource Governance and Climate Action in Zambia with We Effect financing from SIDA. Water and Pads Project in collaboration with the International Alliance of Women In six of Zambia's ten provinces, community-based organizations including cooperatives and women's clubs are members of ZAW.^[1]

Key Initiatives and Projects

Some of the key projects and initiatives implemented by the Zambia Alliance of Women include:

• Agricultural Advocacy: The group has carried out initiatives that support women in conservation farming and has played a significant role in promoting women's involvement in agricultural decision-making. Over the last five years, ZAW has played a significant role in promoting women's land rights, environmental sustainability, and their involvement in agricultural decision-making. For instance, ZAW carried out a project in collaboration with the Zambia Land Alliance, the Non-Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC), and Action Aid that sought to empower women with land and other productive resources while also enhancing their skills in conservation farming and sustainable land management.^[8]
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV): To promote a culture of zero tolerance for violence in Zambia and a greater knowledge of gender-based violence, ZAW led a campaign that will make use of interactive content, storytelling, educational materials, and community participation. This proposal described a 16-day social media campaign aimed at educating the public, promoting action, and increasing awareness of gender-based violence (GBV).^[1]