81322652-Management of Call for Proposals, selection and pre-award Technical Assistance for EZCF 2.0 Matching Grant Facility

Enterprise 2.0 Boosting Agriculture Market Access in Zambia is a EUR36 million matching grant facility co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ under the Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems (CREATE) programme. The overall objective of EZCF 2.0 is to catalyse a transformative shift in Zambia"s agri-food sector by increasing productivity, strengthening market access for smallholder farmers, and accelerating the adoption of sustainable, climate-smart, and inclusive production practices. The Action focuses on legumes and horticulture value chains, with geographic emphasis on four provinces linked to the Lobito Corridor.

EZCF 2.0 mobilises private sector investment by providing matching grants to agribusinesses that demonstrate commercially viable, green, and inclusive business models. Supported enterprises are expected to integrate smallholder farmers into their value chains, create decent jobs, promote gender equality and youth inclusion, and adopt environmentally sustainable practices. Approximately 200,000 smallholder farmers, particularly women, young people, and vulnerable groups, are expected to benefit indirectly through improved market integration, incomes, and resilience to climate and economic shocks.

The facility is implemented through two complementary grant schemes. Grant Scheme I (Growth and Scale Facility) provides medium and large matching grants (up to 1 Million Euro) to agribusinesses with high growth potential, using a competitive two-stage selection process supported by structured pre- and post-award technical assistance. Grant Scheme II (Micro-Grants Facility with ticket sizes between 10,000 and 50,000 Euro) targets smaller, indigenous enterprises through simplified procedures tailored to their scale and capacity and is implemented through a separate delivery partner.

Beyond grant financing, EZCF 2.0 embeds comprehensive capacity development and technical assistance throughout the investment lifecycle. This includes pipeline development, application support, business and investment readiness, inclusive business model design, facilitation of linkages to financial institutions, and post-award strategic advisory services. Through these measures, the Action supports agribusinesses in accessing follow-on financing and strengthening their long-term financial sustainability beyond grant funding.

Through its integrated approach, Enterprise 2.0 strengthens Zambia"s agribusiness ecosystem, leverages private capital, and contributes to green growth, food and nutrition security, and inclusive economic development.