About ZILARD
Institutional profile
ZILARD is an autonomous research, education and policy analysis institute guaranteed by the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) that aims to assist in building trade unions labour research, education and policy analysis capacities for better capturing and influencing national, regional and international policy-space and development.
ZILARD is legally registered under the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) and governed by a multi-disciplinary Board of Directors drawn from academia, labour movements, public institutions, and the private sector.
ZILARD is part of the Africa Labour Research Network (ALRN) which is a network of researchers linked to trade unions and labour research institutions across Africa. It was established in 2001 to strengthen labour research and support the African labour movement through evidence-based research and policy advocacy. And ZILARD is currently the coordinator.
The vision of ZILARD is to advance grounded evidence-based labour research, education and policy analysis that enhances a strong, dynamic and accountable trade union movement in Zambia to promote and defend socio-economic justice, fairness and equality in favour of workers.
A labour research think-tank that capacitates trade unions with labour research, education and policy analysis for effective input into national, regional and global policy discussions and actions for the benefit of the Zambian worker and the people.
Our philosophy
A holistic view of development
In defining its stake in the national, regional, continental and global political economy, ZILARD seeks to view the development process in a holistic manner where the following components are a driver to achieving worker liberation and social justice:
Workers' and people's basic human rights are safeguarded, and how vulnerable people are protected against poverty and exploitation.
The political system functions ethically and implements decisions and distributes resources and opportunities in a just and fair manner.
Systems at the global level should respond to the needs of the workers and the people.
ZILARD stands for the redefinition of the working class ideological grinding that will use evidence-based labour research to create a critical trade union movement that understands their values and can engage in national and international solidarity. In doing so, a base should be constructed on which a parallel, joint programme of basic grassroots trade union activism can then be pursued based on trade union values of independence, worker control, bias to the poor and solidarity.
What we stand for
Core values of ZILARD
- Culture of Collective Struggle
- Workers’ Participatory Democracy
- Accountability, Transparency & Ethics
- Class Consciousness & Struggle
- Social Dialogue & Constructive Engagement
- Cooperation & Networking with strategic allies
- Social Trade Unionism for Global Justice
What shapes our work
Four contextual imperatives
ZILARD's research and programming are informed by four contextual imperatives:
- The evolving and dynamic challenges facing workers in the formal and informal economies, in Zambia and globally.
- Workers and trade unions as agents of change.
- The capacity and commitment of trade unions to bring about the change their members desire.
- The recognition that lasting change can only be achieved through tripartite collective bargaining and genuine social dialogue between government, employers, and workers -- at local, national, and global levels.
How we deliver our mission
Objectives
- Initiate demand-driven labour research linked to an education agenda that refines trade union consciousness and ideological grounding.
- Build the research capacity of trade unions to advocate for change through evidence-based policy positions for working people.
- Strengthen research as a tool for effective education, training, and capacity building for better service delivery to members.
- Assist in the development of empirically informed trade union policy interventions at the national, regional, and continental levels.
- Maintain an accurate and accessible database on the economy and labour relations in Zambia.
- Provide an online and offline platform for discussion on labour and national development issues.
Research capacity
Institutional infrastructure and resources
- A core team of experienced researchers, including an economist, sociologist, communication specialists and field coordinators.
- Access to a national pool of trained enumerators and community research assistants.
- Digital data-collection tools, including ODK and KoboToolbox.
- Analytical software licences for SPSS, NVivo, and Stata.
- Research ethics clearance experience from the University of Zambia and NACOSTI, where required.
- The University of Zambia (Department of Economics and Institute of Economic and Social Research)
- ZamStats -- for data alignment and methodology coordination
- The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
- Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE)
ZILARD also maintains a repository of research outputs, accessible via its forthcoming online knowledge portal.
Collaborations supporting our research
Documented collaborations
University of Zambia (Department of Economics & Institute of Economic and Social Research)
Institutional partnership supporting ZILARD's research capacity and academic affiliation.
Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats)
Data alignment and methodology coordination.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
Institutional partnership; funded ZILARD's 2018 affiliate membership study and 2019 minimum-wage study.
Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE)
Institutional partnership.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
Funded and hosted the 2020 informal-economy baseline study.
Related publication →Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland (SASK)
Supported the 2021 trade-union research and commissioned the 2022-2023 disability-inclusion study.
Related publication →Solidarity Centre
Funded the 2023-2025 studies on Chinese investment, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the shop-steward organising tool.
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Funded the 2024 rural sugar-plantation workers study.
Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC)
Funding the 2026 Lobito Corridor labour-rights assessment.
Our team
Governance and team
Leadership & management
Prof. Trywell Kalusopa
Professor Trywell Kalusopa is a distinguished labour and employment scholar, academic, and researcher based in Zambia. He is the founding and current Executive Director of ZILARD and serves at the University of Zambia. He has previously held academic and professional positions at the University of Botswana, University of Zululand (South Africa), and the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordination Council (SATUCC). He holds a PhD from the University of South Africa (UNISA), specialising in labour market information support systems, and has authored and edited numerous research articles, technical reports, and book chapters on labour and employment in Africa.
Francis Jamani Phiri
Mr. Phiri is a development communication and research professional with over 10 years of experience in research, programme management, communication, and policy analysis. He holds a Master of Communication for Development (MCD) and contributes to labour research, workers' education and training, advocacy, and programme implementation, working closely with trade unions, government institutions, the media, and other labour-focused organisations.
Staff
Stanley Zulu
Mr Zulu is a Labour Economist, with expertise in labour economics, labour policy, industrial relations, and socio-economic research. He holds a Master’s Degree in Labour Policy and Globalisation from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, a Master’s Degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Lusaka, and an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Namibia. He brings extensive experience in labour market research, policy analysis, report writing, and policy brief development. His work focuses on generating evidence to inform labour policy, advance workers’ rights, strengthen trade unions, and promote decent work and inclusive economic development in Zambia.
Mercy Mwale
Ms. Mwale holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication, both from the University of Zambia. With three years of administration experience, she manages the research administration and organisational affairs of ZILARD.
Named Board of Directors membership will be added once supplied by ZILARD.
Resources
Downloads
2018–2023 Strategic Plan
Download ZILARD's strategic plan document, setting out the institute's priorities, programmes and direction.
Download PDF →DLDMS mobile app (v0.1.5)
A companion Android app for field data collection. Download and install the APK, then allow installs from your browser or file manager when prompted.
Download Android app (APK)Version 0.1.5 · Android · about 31 MB