Social protection is a critical pillar of development. It ensures that the most vulnerable members of society are protected from economic shocks, poverty, and social exclusion. At ZCSD, we have been at the forefront of promoting social protection services, particularly for marginalized groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities.

In our early years, ZCSD played a pivotal role in the creation of the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), which specifically addresses the needs of persons with disabilities. This was a significant step in ensuring that social protection services reached those who were often left behind in development processes.

Today, we continue to advocate for comprehensive social protection programs that provide not only economic relief but also access to healthcare, education, and other essential services. Our projects, such as Scaling Up Community Voices for Social Accountability, focus on ensuring that citizens have access to quality services and can hold service providers accountable for their delivery. By enhancing the awareness of social accountability and increasing demand for quality services, we are working towards creating an economically empowered and sustainable Zambia.

Key Social Protection Services at ZCSD:

• Advocacy for Inclusive Social Protection Policies: Working with government and stakeholders to ensure that social protection policies are inclusive of marginalized groups, particularly women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
• Capacity Building for Vulnerable Communities: Providing training and resources to empower vulnerable groups to advocate for their rights and access social protection services, including income support, healthcare, and education.
• Social Cash Transfer Programs: Supporting and advocating for social cash transfer programs that provide direct financial assistance to low-income families, ensuring basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare are met.
• Disability Inclusion Initiatives: Collaborating with ZAPD and other organizations to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to specialized social protection services such as rehabilitation, education, employment, and social support.
• Child Protection Services: Promoting child-focused social protection programs that provide nutritional support, access to education, and health services for vulnerable children, particularly in rural and impoverished areas.
• Community-Based Health Insurance Schemes: Supporting initiatives that offer affordable healthcare coverage to vulnerable groups, ensuring they can access essential medical services without financial hardship.
• Emergency Relief and Safety Net Programs: Implementing and advocating for emergency safety net programs that provide relief to families affected by natural disasters, economic downturns, or sudden loss of income.
• Monitoring and Accountability of Social Protection Services: Engaging in social accountability projects to monitor the implementation of social protection services, ensuring that they reach the intended beneficiaries and are delivered efficiently.
• Poverty Reduction and Economic Empowerment Initiatives: Supporting programs that link social protection services with skills development, entrepreneurship training, and income-generating activities to reduce long-term poverty and dependency.
• Legal Support and Advocacy: Providing legal aid and advocacy to ensure vulnerable groups can access social protection services and that their rights are protected under existing laws and policies.

By offering these key services, ZCSD works tirelessly to ensure that social protection systems in Zambia are robust, inclusive, and capable of uplifting the most vulnerable members of society. Through our efforts, we aim to build a more equitable society where no one is left behind.