ActionAid Zambia (AAZ) is part of the ActionAid Global (AAG) Federation, sharing common values and aims to drive social change towards a just, equitable and sustainable world. ActionAid Zambia works with marginalised, excluded women, children, young people, and Persons with Disabilities their organizations and movements, to address the structural causes of social injustice, gender inequality and poverty. This fight is in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have identified the importance of addressing poverty alongside inequality.

ActionAid Zambia invites Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible and fit for purpose youth-led organizations, and community-based organizations who are political and strategically positioned, as prospective partners in the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement III (SPAIII) programme in Kitwe, Gwembe, Nalolo, Sesheke, Lusaka, Solwezi, Mufulira, Nakonde, Mpulungu, and Chipata.

SPAIII [2027–2031] aims to strengthen youth leadership, democratic governance, climate justice, and locally led humanitarian action through adaptive, movement-building, and coalition-based approaches. The programme prioritizes youth-led organizations that can drive social and political change, strengthen civic engagement, and influence policies and challenge systems and structures that are affecting young people and causing poverty and exclusion.

Thematic Areas

Youth led organizations should demonstrate experience and interest in ONE of the following thematic areas:

Lot 1: Democracy and Human Rights - Youth-led movements, civil society and active global citizens strengthen inclusive and accountable democratic governance, shape public opinions and defend civic space.

Strengthening youth-led movements and civic participation.
Defending civic space and promoting inclusive governance.
Youth advocacy, policy engagement, social accountability, and coalition building.
Promoting participation of young women and marginalized youth in decision-making processes.

Lot 2: Climate Justice and Just Transition - Communities, youth, civil society, movements and allies push extractive companies, investors, and governments to move from exploitative extraction to a just transition centred on community-led renewable energy and green livelihoods.

Mobilizing communities and youth around climate justice.
Promoting community-led renewable energy solutions and green alternatives.
Supporting advocacy on extractive industries, environmental governance, and just transition pathways.
Advancing green jobs and youth economic opportunities.

Lot 3: Humanitarian Action and Resilience - Youth-led and community-based actors lead principled humanitarian action, while shifting coordination bodies, donors, and authorities to recognise, resource, and include local and youth leadership.

Strengthening youth-led preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience initiatives.
Promoting humanitarian literacy, social cohesion, peacebuilding, and localization.
Supporting recognition and inclusion of youth-led organizations within humanitarian coordination systems.

Eligibility Criteria

Interested organizations must:

Be youth-led, demonstrate meaningful youth participation in governance and programming.
Strong advocacy and policy influencing at national, regional and global level
Experience in political and systems change interventions that shift and challenge the status quo.
Be registered and operating in one or more of the target districts.
Demonstrate a track record in civic engagement, climate justice, humanitarian action, youth empowerment, or related sectors.
Show commitment to gender equality, inclusion, safeguarding, and human rights-based approaches.
Demonstrate niche, capacity and skill to work collaboratively in coalitions, networks, alliances and social movements.
Have a movement mindset and be able to connect with all thematic areas in programming and action.

Submission Requirements

Interested organizations should submit:

Organizational profile (maximum 2 pages).
Proof of registration.
Summary of key programmes implemented during the last three years.
Description of geographical coverage and target groups.
Brief statement (maximum 1 page) outlining alignment with SPAIII Thematic areas and proposed contribution.
Proof of physical address in the proposed implementation areas.

Submission Deadline

EOIs should be submitted electronically with the subject line “SPAIII EOI – [Organization Name]” to Grants.Zambia@actionaid.org by 10th July 2026 Time: 23:59PM CAT.

NOTE: Only shortlisted organizations will be contacted for the next stage of the partner assessment and co-creation process. This is still at development stage (proposal) and onboarding of partners will depend on the outcome of the call.

ActionAid Zambia is committed to promoting youth leadership, localization, gender equality, and transformative social change through long-term partnerships with youth-led organizations and social movements.

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EXPRESSION OF INTEREST - CALL FOR YOUTH LED CSOs IN ZAMBIA