ENTERPRISE Zambia is a challenge fund established to contribute to increased smallholder farmers opportunities in agriculture, including agroforestry and aquaculture value chains in Zambia.
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund supports the achievement of the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, one of the cornerstones of the European Green Deal, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 by funding business investments that improve the sustainability of agro-food systems.
The Fund will support actions enabling SMEs and smallholders to transition to greener and more sustainable agri-food systems and tackle the challenges presented by Covid-19 as well as actions in support to gender and youth focused opportunities and to nutritionally sensitive (regional/national) value chains.
- A financial support component that will be managed by Self Help Africa and Imani Development Ltd;
- A Grant/Loan component (blending), delivered through the African Investment Platform (AIP) blending scheme, whereby the Challenge Fund will be complemented by loans originating from European Investment Bank (EIB) and managed by local financial institutions.
OBJECTIVE
The design ensures that financial support incentivises greater smallholder farmers commercialisation, their integration into value chains and creation and strengthening of smallholder farmers’ and agribusiness associations. This will generate employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth. Agri businesses will also be supported with measures that improve their operating environment.
