About ZILARD
Institutional profile
The Zambia Institute for Labour Research and Development (ZILARD) is an independent, non-profit research and policy institute dedicated to advancing decent work, inclusive growth, and labour justice in Zambia. Established in 2018, ZILARD provides evidence-based analysis, technical advice, and advocacy support to trade unions, government ministries, development agencies, and civil society organisations working to improve the conditions of work and livelihoods for Zambian workers.
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.
To generate knowledge that empowers working people and shapes fairer economic policies, with a strong emphasis on applied research, participatory methodologies, and capacity building.
Our work is informed by a commitment to social dialogue, labour rights, and democratic accountability. Our research agenda responds directly to Zambia's national development goals, the ILO's Decent Work Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals -- particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
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 …
Francis Jamani Phiri
Mr. Phiri is a development communication and research professional with over eight 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' …
Staff
Stanley Zulu
Mercy Mwale
Named Board of Directors membership will be added once supplied by ZILARD.