REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME – CALL FOR LOAN APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM THE ZAMBIAN YOUTH WISHING TO UNDERTAKE BUSINESS INVESTMENT WITH FUNDING UNDER THE MULTISECTORAL YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FUND INITIATIVE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
The Government of Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development is implementing the Multisectoral Approach to Youth Empowerment Programme whose objective is to empower registered youth organizations/cooperatives /entrepreneurs through various youth empowerment programmes to enable them contribute to sustainable national development, the specific objectives are to:
- Encourage the out-of-school, marginalized and unemployed youth to venture into sustainable and viable income generating projects;
- Promote the development of competitive, sustainable, and growth-oriented enterprises owned by the youth;
- Provide business support services for sustainable youth enterprise development;
- Create sustainable employment opportunities for young people through the various value chains; and
- Promote innovation among the youth and provide financing of innovative ideas.
The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development is the Executing and Implementing Agency. The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development has also appointed the National Youth Development Council (NYDC) to be the Implementing Partner of the Multisectoral Approach to Youth Empowerment Programme.
The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development will provide business loans to Zambian youth citizens aged between 18-35 years, with a Green National Registration Card, and, youth owned companies and youth cooperatives for the development of businesses along various value chains. The youth must have a legally registered business cooperative or enterprise owned by young Zambians, with a valid certificate of cooperative registration with PACRA, Registrar of Cooperatives and the National Youth Development Council.
Projects to be considered for funding include the National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme; Timber and Honey Value Chain; Plastic Recycling Plants; Small Scale Mining; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise; Resettlement of Youth in Youth Resettlement Schemes; Skills Development Programme; Youth Innovation Fund; Pave Zambia Youth Empowerment Programme; Youth Milling Plants; and Youth in the Transport Sector.
The Ministry now invites applications from Zambian youth wishing to undertake investments projects in the above-mentioned value chains. Proposals will be in form of Project Business Plans in line with the Application Form provided by the Ministry.
Submissions that will not follow the Application form will not be considered. The selected applicants will then be provided the relevant empowerment package.
Application Forms can be obtained from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development Provincial Offices in all provinces and the National Youth Development Council offices situated off Nangwenya road: Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) new building complex showgrounds, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development and the National Youth Development Council websites: www.myscd.gov.zm and www.nydc.gov.zm. All loan application forms shall be available to applicants FOR FREE.
Submission of application forms should be done through the Provincial Youth Development Coordinators’ Offices located in all the ten Provinces.
DEADLINE AND PLACE OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: The deadline for submission of applications is end of September, 2020.
In line with Government’s policy, the Ministry also prioritises and encourages the participation of young women and youth with disabilities.
Joe Kapembwa
Permanent Secretary
MINISTRY OF YOUTH, SPORT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT