Southern African Institute for Policy and Research

SAIPAR undertakes a diverse portfolio of research, policy, and capacity-building initiatives that span legal information, electoral governance, energy transitions, food systems, and economic development. Through partnerships with universities, international organisations, and government bodies, SAIPAR's projects generate evidence-based insights and practical tools to address national and regional challenges across Southern Africa.

Active and Ongoing Projects

• 1. Zambia Legal Information Institute (ZambiaLII) 2012– ongoing
• Maintains a free, open-access digital legal information library providing public access to Zambian legislation and case law. For more information on ZambiaLII, click here

• 2. African Extractivism & Green Transition 2023–2029
• Researches the governance, economic tracking, and supply chains of critical mineral energy materials (MEMs) across Zambia, the DRC, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. For more information on ZambiaLII, click here 

• 3. Zambia Elections Research Network (ZERN) 2016–ongoing
• Collaborates with the University of Cape Town and the University of Warwick to produce deep academic analyses and data tracking on Zambian elections.

• 4. Recovering Embedded Heat in Zambian Food Production (REHEATZ) 2023–2026
• Partners with Trinity College Dublin and Build It International to capture and reuse embedded wastewater heat from commercial food production.

• 5. Support to Electoral Dispute Resolution (SEDROBZ II) 2025 - 2026
• Employs digital case-management tools, capacity building, and an AI early-warning system to provide accessible electoral justice. For more information on SEDROBZ, click here

• 6. Innovation Support for SMEs (IDRC) 2022 - 2026
• Assessed existing government policies to evaluate how effectively they foster innovation for small businesses in Zambia and Zimbabwe
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• 7. Building Stronger Partnerships to Address National and Regional Challenges in Partnership with the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research  2023 – 2028
• Cooperation with the Irish Embassy to build policy engagement and dialogue capacities in Zambia and the region.