what is ZCSD?

The Zambia Centre for Social Development (ZCSD) is an umbrella of more than 100 Civil society organisations promoting vibrant, independent and well coordinated civil society organisations in Zambia.

The Zambia Council for Social Development has a long exciting and frustrating history.  This is not to justify its current status but to acknowledge the fact that the Council did enjoy both moments of glory and pain during the decades of its existence, but to recognize the fact that most people who today speak of the Council may only recall the negative images of the organization without appreciating the efforts that have been made to revive its mandate and operations. The memories of the Council’s glorious times are visible through its resource base that it was given in appreciation of its good work.  The resource base is in the form of a 101.7814 acres land and a building in the city of Lusaka, which guarantees its sustenance. In the early nineties when Zambia was experiencing a change in the political governance, attempts were made to set up other organizations to play the role, similar to that played by the Council. It was felt that the council failed to discharge its mandate hence the attempts to create an alternative organization. However these attempts along the way were discontinued, leaving the ZCSD to be the sole alternative to play the role of an umbrella organization for NGOs in Zambia. As the decade of the nineties came to a close a new group of NGO leadership is known to have actively sought to develop strategies to revive the council. The main motivation for these actions is the recognition that the Council has a distinct role that is currently not being played by any other NGOs in Zambia.  In a more practical term during the past fours years, attempts have been made to create an enabling environment that could interest the NGOs in taking up active membership and becoming involved in reviving the council’s functions again. 

The first of these efforts involved the convening of a repositioning workshop prior to the Annual General Meeting. This activity was supported by Government and the GTZ.The main objectives of the workshop/ AGM were;
·         Identify the main challenges the ZCSD was facing.

·         Based on the above come up with resolutions that would enable the ZCSD be an active umbrella for NGOs in Zambia. As we look to the future of the ZCSD we are now able to see the light; its however very important that we focus on ensuring that we start to plan now for the Council to fully take up the leadership role of being a strong umbrella NGO in the Nation. Currently there is no NGO that is playing an active role as an umbrella NGO to claim this role.  In order to reclaim its umbrella role the Council intends to undertake the following activities;

 ·         The ZCSD formulate a long term strategic plan for the period of five years. The plan will take into consideration the needs of the NGO Sector and ensuring Government/ NGO relations is maintained.

·          Arising from the above; to fundraise for the implementation of the plan and further strengthen other structures of the organization.

·         Strengthen ZCSD Cooperation with Key NGOs in Zambia and out side.   ZCSD is still faced with the challenge of sustainability and capacity with only three professional staff and four supporting staff at the secretariat level, the council depends on its traditional income which has become very minimal compared to the mandate and the expectation of its members, we indeed require further strengthening.

 ZCSD Governance Structure.

The ZCSD Governed by the following Structure:

a)     General Assembly/AGMThis is the annual gathering of all the paid up members of the Council.  Every three years the AGM elects the Executive Board from the ZCSD Member NGOs. The AGM is the supreme authority on the policy direction of the Co-opted members.

b)     Executive Board.It is the Board that is, mandated by the AGM to oversee the operations of the Council on its behalf.  The Executive Board works through subcommittees whose functions are in accordance to the ZCSD’s activity program areas.  The membership to Board is comprised of 8 elected from the Member NGOs and three co-opted Members.

c)      SecretariatThe head of the secretariat is employed by the Executive Board to run the day to day affairs of the Council.

d)     Board of Trustees The independent board within the ZCSD structure is the Board of Trustees whose major function is to advise the Executive Board. Trustees are nominated by the Executive Board and ratified the AGM   The trustees are the custodians of the ZCSD immovable assets and mediate conflicts within ZCSD policy operations.   


ZCSD was formed in 1974 and got registered under the registrar of societies CAP 119 of the Laws of Zambia in1975.

GOVERNANCE

The general assembly is the supreme body of ZCSD. it is composed of all fully paid up members. it meets annually and supervises the Executive Board of ZCSD.

The Executive Board is composed of 8 (eight) elected members from the general membership plus 3 co-opted members. The Board performs executive functions of back-stopping the secretariate on managerial functions.
A Board of trustees is ratified by the General assembly to provide....

VALUES

- ZCSD see its efforts as a means for the people and communities to solve their problems by and for themselves.
- ZCSD believes that vibrant, independent and well-coordinated civil society organisations can effectively strengthen the democratic process in Zambia by allowing people to effectively participate in decision-making processes.