Empowering Communities: The Role of Non –Governmental Organisations in Promoting Community Development Through Nonformal Education

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in promoting community development through Non-Formal Education (NFE) in Lusaka, Zambia. The study adopted a mixed methods research design, utilizing purposive sampling. The findings revealed that NGOs primarily implement NFE activities focused on civic education, health literacy, youth empowerment, and occupational skills training. While these initiatives contribute significantly to community capacity building, their long-term impact is constrained by financial instability, a lack of formal accreditation for learners, and the casual work economic reality of the urban poor. The study recommends that NGOs actively diversify their funding through social enterprise models and seek partnerships with national accreditation bodies to better link non-formal skills to the formal labour market.