A large NGO prioritizing purchases from entrepreneurs with disabilities

World Vision Zambia connects entrepreneurs with disabilities to supply chains. By 2024, registered suppliers rose from 12 to 30, delivering goods like food and cleaning supplies via WhatsApp-based coordination.

World Vision Zambia, part of the global World Vision Network, launched a project in 2023 to support businesses owned by persons with disabilities by facilitating their registration as suppliers of goods and services. Registered businesses receive supply requests through WhatsApp and meet those requests based on their capacity to do so. The products supplied by these businesses include food and cleaning materials, with prices matching market rates. By mid-2024 the number of registered businesses increased from 12 to 30.

Problems Targeted

Disability-owned businesses often struggle with financial and employment issues due to limited funding and buyers.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

World Vision Zambia, part of the global NGO network with Christian values, aims to improve the lives of vulnerable children, families, and communities. In 2023 the organization launched a project to empower persons with disabilities who produce goods but lack market access. The Registration Programme enables these suppliers, who must have government-issued disability registration cards and other legal documents, to sell their goods to World Vision Zambia. Micro-businesses receive supply requests via WhatsApp, ensuring visibility only to them. Orders are based on the capacity of a each business to supply the ordered products, such as food and cleaning materials, with prices aligned to market rates. Suppliers deliver directly, and payment is made within seven days following inspection and acceptance by the requester. Since its inception, the programme has grown from 12 to 30 registered businesses, enhancing the reputation of entrepreneurs with disabilities and helping them secure other business relationships. Additionally, the Citizen’s Economic Empowerment Commission, a government agency, has reserved 10 per cent of its loans to support viable business ideas from these enterprises.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The project incurs no costs, as World Vision buys products from entrepreneurs with disabilities rather than large manufacturers. The Southern Africa Regional Partnership of World Vision plans to expand this model to Angola, Malawi, and Mozambique. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Pictures

World Vision Zambia privileges businesses owned by persons with disabilities as suppliers.

World Vision Zambia privileges businesses owned by persons with disabilities as suppliers.

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