Zaepd

Empowering skills.
Creating inclusive jobs.

Promotion of vocational skills training and employment opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities through government bursaries.

Projects
About Us

24 Years Of Service

Since 2001, ZAEPD membership is currently standing at 3576 comprising of both persons with disabilities and their parents/ guardians. From 2o2o – 2024, the institution has managed to facilitate the award 228 persons with intellectual disabilities through Government bursaries under the Ministry of Technology and Science (MoTS) to enroll for vocational skill in various Tevet accredited institutions. From the 228 awarded, 143 are males whilst 85 are females.

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ZAEPD inclusive education training with NVRC staff in Ndola.

GOAL, MISSION, VISION

Our Goal

Promotion of Inclusive Vocational Skills Training for persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and also Lobby for their Integration into the Labor Market.

Our Mission

Provision of the conducive and enabling environment that fosters the participation of persons with intellectual disabilities in the area of education as well as the labor market without discrimination

Our Vision

To Uplift the Livelihood of Persons with Disabilities through the Provision of Employment Opportunities after the acquiring vocational skills training.

Success Stories

Events to promote inclusive Education. Min training online bursaries application process for vocational skills training for Persons with Disabilities (PWIDs) in Lusaka. December 2025.

Whats New?

News from ZAEPD

01. Shifting Community Attitudes

Over the past five years, attitudes toward persons with disabilities have improved significantly. Many parents and guardians who once believed their children could not learn or work have now begun enrolling them in vocational skills training. This positive shift is a direct result of ZAEPD’s continuous community engagement and sensitization efforts, which have encouraged families to recognize the potential and capabilities of their children.

02. Promoting an Inclusive Society

These interventions aim to raise public awareness and promote an inclusive society where no one is left behind. This commitment aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), Vision 2030, the Disability Act No. 6 of 2012, and the recently launched 2025 National Disability Policy, all of which place strong emphasis on inclusion and equal participation for all persons with disabilities.

03. Successful Labor Market Integration

ZAEPD recently supported a 2023 General Agriculture graduate with an intellectual disability to secure placement in the Zambia National Service (ZNS) under the Agriculture Department. This successful integration into the labor market is a proud milestone for ZAEPD and a powerful reminder to society that disability is not inability.

04. Strengthening Community Access

ZAEPD’s activities have positively impacted communities in its areas of operation by increasing access to information on inclusive vocational skills training and available employment opportunities.

Challenges ZAEPD Encounter

ZAEPD faced numerous challenges during the course of the project implementation and these include the following;

  • The integration of graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities into the labor market is one major challenge ZAEPD faced severely. This can be attributed largely to the high unemployment levels in the country where they are many graduates in the streets chasing after limited jobs.
  • Dependance on one donor in past years has triggered ZAEPD to cover limited areas to conduct lobby and advocacy for persons with intellectual disabilities.
  • Mobility challenges

Future Interventions

Going forward, ZAEPD will implore better strategies arising from the challenges which have been encountering by way of scaling up resource mobilization so that more corperate partners (Donors)are attracted into the organization. With the difficulties to integrate persons with intellectual disabilities into the labor market, ZAEPD under the Economic Empowerment Thematic Area will enable to bring forth activities aimed at empowering graduates with intellectual disabilities so that they can venture into self employment activities rather than over dependance looking for jobs.
The challenges faced in the current project has enabled ZAEPD to be more proactive going forward.
ZAEPD will also intensify more on collaboration with the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and the Local Authorities through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) so that persons with intellectual disabilities are incorporated into the grants and loans facility. Additionally, ZAEPD intends to conduct budget tracking into the disbursement of these grants and loans by the Councils to check whether there is inclusivity. This will be one of the lobby and advocacy strategy which will be used.
ZAEPD emphasizes more on collaboration and as such, ZAEPD is looking forwardbroadeing the platforms/networks so that together, we can exchange ideas and news ways of conducting our lobby and advocacy for effective service delivery to our respective clientele.