Who We Are
ZARD is a non-governmental organization established in 1984. We have proven ourselves as a partner in issues of gender and development through our lobbying and policy advocacy activities — aided by our research and publications.
Zambia Association for Research and Development (ZARD) is a non-governmental organization established in 1984. ZARD has proven itself as a partner in issues of gender and development through its lobbying and policy advocacy activities aided by its research and publications. ZARD's objective is to create and maintain channels of communication between researchers, policy makers, organizations, and individuals concerned with development issues.
ZARD is a non-profit making, member-driven Gender and Development (GAD) organization. It was established to primarily promote and advance gender development and empowerment of women in Zambia. In particular, ZARD was founded on the premise that participatory action-oriented research is a useful tool for addressing the gender challenges in Zambia — especially those relating to the uplifting of the status and standard of living of women. The organization executes its mandate through research, advocacy, and training.
Vision, Mission & Values
Our Vision
A Zambia where women and men equitably benefit from and are fully integrated in sustainable development processes at local and national levels.
Our Mission
To contribute to the development and advancement of the status of women in relation to men, through the production of evidence-based information, alternative approaches to development, capacity building of communities, and coalition building with like-minded organizations locally and internationally.
Our Values
- Honesty
- Role modeling & living example
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Teamwork
- Respect for one another
- Professionalism
- Result driven
Our Objectives
The following objectives guide ZARD's work and define the contribution we seek to make to gender equality, evidence-based policymaking, and the empowerment of women and girls in Zambia.
To initiate and conduct research aimed at highlighting, educating, and updating civil society, the public, and policy makers on the status of girls, women, and the disadvantaged in society.
To create and maintain information sharing and knowledge exchange between researchers, organizations, and individuals concerned with development issues and policy change.
To build coalitions with other organizations and NGOs having similar aims and objectives at national, regional, and international levels.
To promote the transfer of ICTs and technical skills to enable women, girls, and the disadvantaged in society to fully participate in economic spheres.
To advance women's participation at all levels of decision making.
To advance effective institutional gender mainstreaming through gender training for civil society and the public/private sector.
Organizational Structure
ZARD's secretariat is responsible for day-to-day management and is headed by the Executive Director, who is responsible for the implementation of ZARD's programmes. The Executive Director is supervised by a six-person Board of Directors. The General Assembly, a general membership body that makes final decisions, elects the Executive Board as well as the Projects Committee, which meets every two years.
Membership
ZARD is a membership organization with over 100 researchers from different academic and professional fields. There is a deliberate policy to ensure that as many activities of the organization as possible are implemented by the members themselves, with the coordination and technical support of the secretariat.
Financial Management & Internal Controls
ZARD maintains robust financial management systems and internal controls to ensure transparency, accountability, and good stewardship of resources entrusted to the organization.
Receipting & Banking. All funds received are receipted in a seriated book and banked immediately, with separate bank accounts opened for long-term projects.
Procurement Standards. All payments are supported with three quotations and made by cheque, unless the Executive Director approves cash payment by letter.
Authorization. All payments are supported by vouchers with four signatories, with file copies kept in chronological order for easy retrieval.
Independent Audit. The books are audited by independent external auditors every year, with audit reports presented to the General Assembly.
Project Management Experience
ZARD has extensive experience in the coordination and implementation of projects, especially in the field of research. With about 35 years of experience in managing projects and highly qualified staff to coordinate them, ZARD's publications and achievements stand as testimony to its experience and ability to manage projects.
ZARD's organizational mandate is to contribute to the development and advancement of the status of women in relation to men, through the production of evidence-based information, alternative approaches to development, capacity building of communities, and coalition building with like-minded organizations locally and internationally.
Our Achievements
Over nearly four decades, ZARD has built a portfolio of achievements that reflect our commitment to evidence, partnership, and the empowerment of women. Some of our most notable accomplishments include:
Strengthened partnership linkages, creating confidence in ZARD's activities among stakeholders and beneficiaries.
Established 9 women's groups in gender, human rights, and HIV/AIDS programmes in rural areas — reaching communities across five districts.
Established the Women's Information for Development Network (WIDNet), connecting women to information and resources for development.
Established the Women's Resource Centre, which provides a wide range of information on women and development in Zambia.
Contributed to the establishment of the Gender in Development Division (GIDD) at Cabinet Office — a lasting institutional legacy.
Lobbied the Government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) in March 1985 through the Women's Rights Conference held at Mindolo, Kitwe.
Continued to work towards bridging gender gaps by bringing out information on gender and development, women's rights, human rights, culture, and the dignity of women and men.