It has been over 29 years since the Zambian Federation of Associations of Women in Business (ZFWAB), which hosts the Graça Machel Trust’s Network of Women in Business (NABW), was established. Located in Lusaka capital of Zambia, ZFAWIB is a country-level non-governmental organisation which has successfully promoted women’s entrepreneurial activities in all sectors of the economy. Today, it is one of the most successful and sustainable national women’s networks in the region.
Photo: ZFAWIB Factory
ZFAWIB started with a small group of women entrepreneurs: a commercial farmer that grew flowers for export, a timber trader and two women in the textile industry whose focus was establishing export markets for their members. Over the years, it has transformed into a national-level umbrella body driving advocacy, capacity building, access to markets, finance and financial services, and network-building programmes operating in agriculture, textile, trade, mining, construction, and consultancy services. Segmenting the federation’s membership in different sectors inspired the idea of setting up a textile factory for women in 2019. This enabled women to take advantage of large-scale business opportunities to produce and supply protective clothing, school uniforms and other textile garments imported from China or South Africa.
Reports by ILO Cooperative Unit underscore many ways cooperatives could support sustainable development, such as employment creation and opening up new market opportunities. These indicate that employee-owned businesses have higher levels of employment stability and have jobs that are less likely to be negatively impacted by cyclical downturns, giving more women the chance to participate in local economies and, in turn, advancing gender equality. Graça Machel once said, “cooperatives are very much needed in society, initiatives that encourage citizens to work together. Cooperatives allow us to be better citizens, successful individuals and a society if we work with others in an organised and structured way.” As a result, cooperatives have empowered many communities, given many a sense of responsibility, and reduced social inequalities.
Establishing ZFAWIB Textile Cooperative, funding opportunity, its sustainability
The opportunity to bring the dream of setting up a textile factory became a reality in 2019 when ZFAWIB was approached by the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) to submit a concept note about the business to secure 100 sewing machines on lease. The state-of-the-art sewing machines would then enable them to perform different functions in the garment production process. This inspired the women to find investment funds and capital to start operations and grow the business. Before long, ZFAWIB Textile Cooperative was launched on 14th February 2020.
Graça Machel visited the ZFAWIB Textile factory to see some of the network members’ work.
To ensure the federation is sustainable, beneficiaries contribute a share price pegged at K500 (US$ 32). Each member is allowed to hold 10 shares to be fully paid up and what is encouraging is that the network managed to attract 41 women who purchased 10 shares each. The money raised through the shares was the initial capital used to pay for business premises to operate from, service the machines and meet other operating expenses whilst looking for a business.
Working in the textile factory
Having worked with businesswomen in different sectors for many years, the Graça Machel Trust recognises many challenges women face when they try to grow their businesses. This includes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, being encouraged by how the Trust’s network has recovered its business that went into business just before the pandemic with the factory not operating for months during the lockdown period, a conversation with one of the network leads was necessary. The Vice Chair of the federation, Jacqueline Chipasha Mutale Dube, revealed that the pandemic brought an unlikely opportunity, a “launch pad” for the business as more orders came in to produce COVID-19 protective wear – cloth masks at a large scale ranging from 3000 to 60,000 and protective garments. Thanks to organisations such as UNICEF and COMESA and many other clients that placed orders and later became advocates and marketing agents for the business.
Despite the wins, the network’s biggest challenge was finding premises large enough to accommodate all their newly found equipment in the right location and at a reasonable rent. Finding enough experienced tailors to work on large orders and operate at the highest productivity level was also challenging. In addition, with the experience gained over the past 2 years, they managed to revise their business plan. They considered external risk factors and shocks which have thrown some of our assumptions and projections off course, such as COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Collectively building stronger networks
For a former banker with an Economics, Business Administration and Masters in Banking and Finance for Development degree, Jacqueline Dube has contributed so much to the growth of the ZAFWIB network. She shares her passion with many other women in the network who have also seen its growth. She says, “When I put my mind to something, I give it my full commitment. I do not like to fail and therefore do not give up easily. I always look for solutions to whatever challenges or obstacles I face. I am a hard worker and believe in building relationships and working with others whenever possible”. Growing up in Lusaka, as a young woman, Jacqueline’s hopes were always to live a comfortable life and make a difference in people’s lives, especially other women.
“Seek out and join networks, and if you cannot find any, then start one. Support and build up other women, especially those coming behind and looking to you to pave the way. Be a mentor, sponsor a young woman, and share your networks.” – Graça Machel.
Graca Machel, Jacqueline Dube and members
Despite enjoying some successes and having an optimistic projection of the business, she had to overcome some personal struggles that have shaped her and allowed her to reach greater heights. Ms Dube has a great appreciation for collective work. She attributes this success to a collective of women. “They have brought different skills, strengths and experiences that complement each other to achieve one common objective”. Jacqueline is proud of the successes the business has achieved since it started. She shares, “we have been able to employ young women who struggled to find jobs despite having gone to some skills training schools, and others have improved their tailoring skills. We are therefore making a difference in their lives.” Here are some personal inspirational facts:
Read more: Five inspiring facts about Jacqueline Dube.
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.