Boosting civil society leadership in Zambia’s land governance reforms
NLC Zambia has achieved a significant milestone in its resource mobilisation efforts, securing a €600,000 European Union grant to strengthen the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens in promoting good land governance. The three-year project, implemented by the Zambia Land Alliance, Transparency International Zambia, PAN, and coordinated by NLC Zambia, will operate across Kawambwa, Mansa, Mufumbwe, Serenje and Solwezi.
The initiative aims to deepen citizen participation, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and improve equitable access to land-related decision-making processes, positioning communities at the centre of Zambia’s land governance reforms.
Catalytic ILC Support: Clear evidence of leverage and sustainability
The grant represents a significant return on ILC’s catalytic investments. Earlier this year, NLC Zambia received ZMW 597,450 (≈ USD 25,865) from the Land Facility, designed to strengthen the coalition’s institutional capacity, expand its membership base, and enhance its preparedness for strategic advocacy and partnership engagement.
This support contributed to building the coalition’s operational strength, improving coordination, and equipping the team to submit a competitive proposal. The EU award demonstrates how targeted ILC funding can unlock significantly larger development resources and enhance long-term coalition sustainability.
This case provides a practical example of the leverage strategy underpinning ILC’s regional model: catalytic inputs generating significant external financing for national-level systems change.
A strategic win for the network
The success positions NLC Zambia as a strong national actor capable of mobilising resources for multi-stakeholder land governance interventions. It also reinforces the value of ILC’s networked approach, where technical support, regional engagement, and national coalition leadership combine to deliver impact.
Beyond the financial gain, the grant strengthens NLC Zambia’s ability to:
- Lead multi-actor land governance initiatives.
- Influence national accountability and transparency frameworks.
- Facilitate grassroots engagement in land policy processes.
- Strengthen linkages between local priorities and national reform agendas.
This strategic positioning is expected to generate learning opportunities for other National Land Coalitions across Africa seeking to expand influence, diversify funding, and enhance their institutional profile.
Looking ahead
With contracting underway, implementation is expected to begin soon. ILC Africa will continue to accompany NLC Zambia through visibility, learning documentation, and technical support to ensure that the project contributes meaningfully to inclusive land governance.
As momentum builds, this achievement stands as a model for how coalitions can maximise catalytic funding, strengthen institutional readiness, and engage effectively with major donors to drive structural change.
