About Alva
Built in Lusaka, for Zambian SMEs.
Alva Zambia was founded in 2021 by four Zambian operators — three former SME owners and a payments engineer — who'd watched ecommerce platforms ported from Nigerian or Kenyan markets fail to fit Zambian operational realities. We built a Zambia-specific platform: native Mobile Money rails across all three networks, last-mile partnerships with Zambian providers, ZRA-aligned tax tooling, and customer service operating in Lusaka business hours.
How we built locally
Alva Zambia is operationally based in Lusaka. Engineering, customer support, sales operations, and partnership management all run from the local office. We hold local Zambian payment licensing, partnership relationships with the major Mobile Money operators, and master agreements with regional last-mile delivery providers.
How we differ from regional platforms
Platforms scaled from Nigerian or Kenyan markets typically treat Zambia as an expansion locale — limited Mobile Money network coverage, no last-mile partnerships, no ZRA tax tooling, and customer support in distant time zones. We're not those platforms; we're a Zambia-first platform that may eventually expand regionally but starts from operational competence at home.
Who we serve
Zambian SMEs selling online — small retail brands, artisan operations, food and beverage producers, services with digital components, and the wave of new consumer brands building Zambian customer bases. Plus social-commerce resellers running businesses on WhatsApp and Facebook who want operational tooling without committing to a full storefront build.