People in Need (PIN), in collaboration with the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), has designed the CSO LEADS Project to strengthen governance and promote sustainable development in Zambia by empowering and building the resilience of civil society actors.

Recognizing the vital role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in representing the needs and aspirations of vulnerable groups, the project specifically targets CSOs and networks representing women, youth, and marginalized communities. The goal is to enhance their participation in public sector governance and local decision-making processes.

The Local Empowerment and Development (LEAD) programme builds on the critical role of local civil society and aims to address the barriers CSOs face. The initiative will focus on strengthening internal governance and organizational management systems, enhancing technical capacities in policy development, advocacy, and social accountability, and fostering collaboration among CSOs, political actors, and other key stakeholders through a tailored participant-driven approach.

A key feature of the action is the inclusion of a robust Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) component. This mechanism will enable targeted CSOs and networks to invest in organizational development, lead joint coordination actions with local governments, and engage in evidence-based advocacy and policy development. These efforts will contribute directly to strengthened local governance and inclusive development in Zambia.

The Civil Society Now (CSN) platform serves as a space for project-related resources and helps bring visibility to the project’s capacity-strengthening components. Explore below to learn more about how the LEAD is driving meaningful change.