Deadline: 22-Apr-25
The Green Recycling Enterprises Engaging in New Technology for a Circular Economy (GREENTech4CE) project supports the implementation of the recently launched Zambia’s Green Growth Strategy to generate economic growth that is also socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
It supports the Eighth National Development Plan (8 th NDP) objectives to achieve economic diversification, increase local value addition, create new and decent jobs. The project targets the “missing middle” – which are businesses that are considered too risky because they are in new or innovation led sectors, and growth stage businesses not too mature for commercial financing and other investments.
The key approach of the GREENTech4CE project is to support the growth and success of small and medium businesses by providing expert advice and funding. The project involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and consumers, to foster sustainable and positive changes in the green economy.
Objectives
- The intervention logic of the GREENTech4CE project aims to address the challenges MSMEs face in transitioning into a sustainable and diversified green, circular, and digital (GCD) economy. The project intends to enhance MSMEs’ capacities through technical assistance and financial support, to increase local value addition and sector diversification, to link value chains associated with CRMs and increase market awareness and access for GCD products. By improving the availability and diversity of financial products for MSMEs and fostering public-private learning and policy advocacy, the project seeks to attract more investments and facilitate MSME growth in Zambia’s GCD economy.
- Specific objectives include support and development of 550 start-ups and micro-enterprises through technical assistance and grant support for business development; boost economic growth by enhancing market access, including local, regional, and international markets to 330 start-ups and micro-enterprises and 250 SMEs.
Funding Information
- Grants between EUR 100,000 and EUR 500,000
Duration
- The initial planned duration of an action may not be less than 24 months nor exceed 36 months or up to 31st December 2027.
Eligible Projects
- The Projects may include (but are not limited to):
- Investments promoting innovation in the green, circular economy such as: bio-waste management, waste recovery, separation of waste at source, aggregation of different types of waste etc., including but not limited to glass, electronics, paper, bottles etc.
- measures aimed at setting up business model that enables the provider to retain ownership of the product thereby allowing the customer access to high quality green, circular or digital products through leasing, renting or subscription services.
- Business models that include remanufacturing of equipment and machinery meant to be leased to small value chain players or small mines and businesses.
- measures that are creating and capturing value of materials such as converting waste into energy (e.g. biogas, biochar, etc.) or valuable resources, equipment as a service (EaaS), remanufacturing, reprocessing, etc.,
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for financial support and/or technical assistance, the applicant must comply with all the criteria listed below: Technical support is to be provided on company specific needs basis:
- Must be an established Zambian medium enterprise. Individuals are not eligible.
- In the case of two enterprises applying as a joint venture (JV), they must provide proof of the JV/partnership agreement. One of the entities shall be the ‘Lead applicant’ and the other as ‘Co-applicant(s)’.
- The lead applicant must be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s), not acting as an intermediary.
- Must be compliant with all national and local laws and regulations, including meeting all obligations relating to the payment of taxes and social security contributions and relevant health and safety and environmental standards.
- Must be a for-profit entity and seeking expansion and/or growth capital.
- The business must have minimum three (3) years of uninterrupted operations in Zambia at the date of application.
For more information, visit Self Help Africa.