Check if you are eligible

The organisation is the lead executing agency for the project.

Applicants must be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project, and not act merely as an intermediary.

The organisation is a for-profit entity.

Not-for-profit organisations, microfinance institutions and government bodies are not eligible as lead applicants.

The organisation was not awarded funding as a lead applicant under ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund 1.0.

Participation as an implementing partner or consortium member does not affect eligibility.

The company has at least two years of uninterrupted operations in Zambia at the date of application.

The business is an agri-food business in an eligible value chain. The tobacco value chain is excluded.

Legumes and horticulture have priority.

The business has a presence in, or a supply link to, North-Western, Central, Copperbelt or Lusaka province.

A direct physical presence is not required where a sourcing, aggregation or out-grower supply link exists.

The company holds the registrations and certifications required to operate in its industry, province and district.

Includes PACRA, ZRA, NAPSA, NHIMA, local council certificates, ZEMA and ZABS as applicable. Documents are submitted later.

The organisation is not a Public Limited Company, State-Owned Enterprise, led by public institution employees, a not-for-profit organisation or a producer organisation.

The registration type is eligible. Cooperatives, sole traders and partnerships cannot apply.

The organisation is not subject to a garnishee order or similar court-ordered attachment affecting its bank accounts.

Decided by a person. A disclosed order is assessed on its facts rather than failed automatically.

The business can contribute at least 50% of the project cost through cash, cash equivalents, credit, equity or in-kind.

In-kind contributions are capped at 20% of the total matching-fund requirement and must be independently verifiable.

Grant funding did not account for 20% or more of total income in each of the last two years.

The test is both years. A single year above the threshold does not make a company ineligible.

Audited financial statements are available as required.

One year is required for a request below EUR 200,000, and two years above it. Decided against the amount actually requested.

Any confirmed breach of the law or corruption allegation in the last five years has been disclosed and assessed.

The application form states that a disclosed breach or allegation does not automatically rule out an organisation. This criterion is never decided automatically.

The organisation can provide a signed voluntary disclosure statement.