The Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD), in partnership with the Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) and the Zambia Social Forum (ZAMSOF), has been awarded a grant under the People in Need (PIN) Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) Scheme 3.4, which supports civil society organizations and networks in monitoring, policy engagement and evidence-based advocacy.

The award was formally presented on 6th November 2026 during the FSTP 2.3, 3.2 and 3.4 Awards Ceremony held at The Quorum Hotel in Kabulonga, Lusaka. The event brought together successful civil society grant beneficiaries, representatives of the European Union, Government institutions and other development stakeholders to celebrate the awarded initiatives and strengthen collaboration within Zambia's civil society sector.

ZCSD was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Zebbies Mumba, Programmes Manager, who received the award on behalf of the Executive Director, alongside Mr. Mwaba Emmanuel Nonde, Programmes Officer.

From Inclusion to Influence: Strengthening MPs' Capacity for Inclusive National Planning, Budgeting and Oversight

The six-month project, titled "From Inclusion to Influence: Strengthening MPs' Capacity for Inclusive National Planning, Budgeting and Oversight," seeks to strengthen the capacity of Zambia's 40 reserved-seat Members of Parliament, comprising 20 women, 15 youth and five persons with disabilities, to actively engage in national planning, budgeting and parliamentary oversight.

The initiative recognises that increased representation in Parliament must be accompanied by meaningful participation and influence in national decision-making processes. It therefore seeks to bridge the gap between representation and influence by equipping Members of Parliament with practical knowledge, budget analysis skills and evidence-based advocacy tools to ensure that the priorities of women, young people and persons with disabilities are reflected in national development plans, resource allocation and public service delivery.

Through the project, the consortium will undertake practical orientation sessions and inclusive budget analysis clinics for Members of Parliament, facilitate community evidence-gathering sessions, develop an Inclusive Budgeting and Parliamentary Oversight Brief and convene policy dialogues with Parliament and relevant government institutions. The initiative will also support the establishment of a peer-learning network for inclusion MPs and promote stronger institutional mechanisms for integrating gender, youth and disability considerations into national planning and budgeting processes.

Strengthening Partnerships for Inclusive Development

Through this collaborative approach, the consortium aims to strengthen the link between community priorities, parliamentary decision-making and government accountability. The project will also contribute to broader efforts to promote inclusive governance and ensure that marginalized groups have meaningful opportunities to shape the policies and public investments that affect their lives.

The award reinforces ZCSD's commitment to strengthening civil society participation, promoting social accountability and advancing inclusive, transparent and responsive governance in Zambia.

From Inclusion to Influence – ensuring that representation translates into meaningful participation and accountability.