ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund

15/09/2025

Afriseed-Stewards Globe paving the way for increased rice production!

Rice growers have in the past faced challenges including limited access to quality seeds, poor farming practices, and lack of market linkages.

Through the European Union funded Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project, Afriseed is partnering with farmers to:
- Improve rice seed varieties like Kilobero.
- Train farmers in modern, climate-smart practices.
- Create an out-grower model that builds strong farmer groups.
- Improve market opportunities that boost household incomes.

The has impacted over 348 farmers and Sub-Chief Mupetankasa has witnessed the positive change.
“We are grateful for the visible development seen through better housing units in the chiefdom, which we attribute to increased household income from rice production,” he said.

With more farmers cultivating up to 2 hectares of rice, incomes are rising, homes are improving, and communities are thriving.

Read more here: https://enterprisezambia.org/afriseed-paving-the-way-for-increased-rice-production-in-chipili-district/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

Self Help Africa and Imani Development present ENTERPRISE Zambia, a five year agribusiness support initiative that will invest €26m in the sector.

10/09/2025

Spotlight!

Meet Kabwe Kafusha, a passionate and resilient farmer from Chingola, Zambia, who is transforming her passion for farming into a thriving business.

With support from Farm Depot Zambia through the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project, she accessed a loan bundle of chicks, feed, and veterinary supplies which helped her scale from 650 to over 1,000 birds in a modern, automated poultry house.

Kabwe’s dream is to expand into piggery and greenhouse farming, and build a fully self-sustaining farm that uplifts her family and benefits her community.

Read about her story here: https://enterprisezambia.org/farm-depot-story/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

05/09/2025

Improved market linkages results in resilient Farmers!

From the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project

When farmers are connected to reliable markets, sustainability becomes a reality.

Learn more about the Challenge Fund impact here: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund - Zambia

04/09/2025

We are pleased to inform you, that the registration is now open for the EU-Zambia Lobito Corridor Business Forum. We would therefore like to invite you to this second online information session on 10 September 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM CET/CAT. This will be the last information session about the up...

03/09/2025

Join the second online information session on 10 September 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM CET/CAT.

This will be the last information session about the upcoming EU–Zambia Lobito Corridor Business Forum, taking place on 12–14 November 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia.

The event will open with remarks from Karolina Stasiak, Ambassador at the Delegation of the European Union to Zambia and COMESA, and Claudio Bacigalupi, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Zambia and COMESA, followed by messages from Albert Halwampa, Director General of the Zambian Development Agency, and a representative of the Presidential Delivery Unit.
The programme will be introduced by Theis Munksgaard-Hansen, Programme Officer at the EU Delegation, who will outline the Forum’s objectives and structure. Participants will then explore dedicated thematic tracks:

- Agriculture, presented by Marcello Rocca, EU Programme Manager
- Critical Raw Materials (CRM), led by Nina Lutter and Paola Gosparini, EU Programme Managers.
- Energy, presented by Roman Iranzo, EU Programme Manager

The agenda will also include a session on investment and partnership opportunities, highlighting the prospects identified for the forum, as well as a series of announcements relating to European financial instruments that have been mobilised for Zambia. This segment will showcase the diversity and potential of partnerships emerging from the initiative.
We warmly encourage you to join this information session and share the invitation with your network. It is an opportunity to learn how your organisation can engage in this strategic Forum, mobilise its business network, and explore new avenues for investment and collaboration in Zambia.

For more information and registration, please see:

We are pleased to inform you, that the registration is now open for the EU-Zambia Lobito Corridor Business Forum. We would therefore like to invite you to this second online information session on 10 September 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM CET/CAT. This will be the last information session about the up...

03/09/2025

Strong policies, stronger communities

From the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project

Through the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project, practical tools like export handbooks and policy reviews have helped tackle trade barriers. By addressing challenges in regulatory frameworks, agribusinesses: from fish farms to seed companies can access markets with greater confidence.

Learn more here: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund - Zambia

01/09/2025

From the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project

Find more insights here: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund - Zambia

29/08/2025

Lessons Learned!

Since 2020, the European Union funded Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project has gone beyond providing financial support, it has been a journey of empowering farmers and strengthening SMEs for sustainable agribusiness growth in Zambia.

Our key lessons;
- Balance speed with rigor in funding: Fast-tracking disbursements fuels growth, but only when paired with systems that ensure accountability and impact.
- Finance plus technical support result in real transformation: When capital is layered with training and skills development, farmers see tangible results leading to higher yields, stronger incomes, and greater resilience to climate challenges.
- Collaboration multiplies returns: By bringing together government, industry bodies, financial institutions and businesses, the Enterprise project showed that collective action can shift systems.
- Risk-sharing unlocks private capital: By co-designing financial products with banks and de-risking lending, the project helped open new doors for agribusinesses who previously had no access to credit.

The legacy? A stronger, more resilient agribusiness sector in Zambia, where farmers are better connected to markets and agribusinesses are more competitive.

While Enterprise phase 1.0 is closing, its lessons will continue to guide future investments and partnerships, ensuring that inclusive agriculture remains a part of Zambia’s growth story.

Lear more about the Enterprise project lessons here: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

28/08/2025

Building Enabling Environments!

Real change does not happen in isolation, it happens when policies, partnerships and finance align to create an environment where farmers and agribusinesses can thrive.

During the implementation period, the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project has helped support systems and policies that shape the future of agriculture.

Here’s how the project has created impact:
- Policy reform: Two critical seed laws have been revised (now before Parliament), paving the way for farmers to access quality, affordable inputs and ensuring fairness on the market.
- Partnerships: The Enterprise project has supported platforms that bring together financial institutions, industry bodies, and agribusinesses ensuring everyone works towards a shared vision of inclusive growth.
- Finance unlocked: With the EU-backed support, EZCF has helped leverage finance for SMEs. By de-risking lending and supported guarantee structures, even enterprises without traditional collateral can now access the capital they need to grow.

The results? Farmers are no longer left behind, SMEs have the capacity to expand, and policies are becoming more aware to the realities on the ground.

Learn more about the Challenge Fund impact in the Factsheet: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund - Zambia

27/08/2025

Building Brighter Futures!

The European Union through the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project has over the years invested in agribusinesses resulting in increased opportunities and household incomes.

The impact so far:
- 1,459 full-time jobs created, giving families stability and reliable income.
- 5,120 seasonal jobs helping thousands access short-term work opportunities linked to planting and harvest season.
- A strong focus on youth & women empowerment, ensuring those often left behind are at the forefront of change.

The result? When we invest in agriculture, we invest in Zambia’s future🌱

Find more insights in the Factsheet: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia

National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund - Zambia

26/08/2025

Farmers First!

Farmers are key to Zambia’s agricultural growth.
The Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project has over the years been working with agribusinesses to unlock the potential of smallholder farmers.

The impact so far:
👨🏾‍🌾255,961 farmers trained in climate-smart practices, agribusiness skills, and sustainable farming methods.
👩🏽‍🌾 171,979 farmers integrated into commercial value chains, ensuring they can sell their products competitively.
👨🏾‍🌾304,745 farmers with improved access to markets for finance, inputs, and outputs.

Behind these statistics are smallholder farmers who can now buy quality seed, a family whose income has improved, a community with new market opportunities.
Together, these stories are shaping Zambia’s agricultural landscape.

Find more details in the factsheet: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia


National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund - Zambia

25/08/2025

Highlighting the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project rationale!

Did you know?
Agriculture employs over 60% of Zambia’s workforce but contributes just 2.8% to GDP, highlighting a sector constrained by low productivity, limited access to finance and inputs, poor infrastructure, and climate vulnerability. Smallholder farmers, who dominate the industry, face significant barriers to commercialization and growth.

The European Union launched the €26 million Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project in 2020 to address these challenges.

The project took a market systems approach and focused on four key interventions:
• Providing targeted financial support for agribusinesses.
• Enhancing agribusiness capacity through technical support.
• Creating an enabling business environment to address policy and climate barriers.
• Facilitating access to complementary finance.

Find more details in the factsheet: https://enterprisezambia.org/learning-briefs/

The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is implemented by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, with funding from the European Union in Zambia