ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund is a €26 million EU-funded challenge fund managed by Self Help Africa that distributes grants to Zambian agri-enterprises to integrate smallholder farmers into sustainable value chains over 2020-2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLusaka, Zambia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund does
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund (EZCF) is a privately-administered, EU-funded challenge fund operating in Zambia from 2020 to 2025 with a total programme value of €26 million. It is funded by the European Union under the Support to the Sustainable Commercialization of Zambia's Smallholder Farmers Programme (part of the EU's ABSO programme) and managed by Self Help Africa — an Irish-headquartered non-profit with operations across nine Sub-Saharan African countries — with technical support from Imani Development, a development consultancy. The Government of Zambia provides formal cooperation through the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and the National Authorizing Office, and the European Investment Bank contributes a complementary loan facility through the African Investment Platform.
The fund's core product is a grant instrument, not a technology platform. EZCF has run four sequential competitive calls (Call 1 in 2020, Call 2 in April 2021, Call 3 in July 2021, Call 4 in March 2022) through which small and medium agri-enterprises in Zambia submit concept notes and full proposals. Selected recipients receive grants covering up to 50% of total project cost — ranging from €70,000 to €300,000 for smaller Size B applicants and €200,000 to €1,000,000 for larger Size A applicants — paired with technical advisory services. Recipients must contribute the remaining 50% in cash, credit, or equity, hold three years of operating history, and meet minimum audited turnover thresholds. The fund complements the grants with a documentation library (guidelines, application templates, sample contracts) and a knowledge offering (Learning Briefs, Project Factsheet, beneficiary testimonials) hosted on its website.
The portfolio targets at least 40 small and medium agri-enterprises operating in agribusiness, agroforestry, aquaculture, livestock, agro-inputs, and agro-processing, with the ultimate goal of integrating 150,000 smallholder farmers into sustainable value chains and creating 500 full-time equivalent jobs over the programme life. Recipients are spread across cotton ginning, forestry, grain storage, legume seed production, agro-inputs, edible oils, livestock, agricultural trading, pork, aquaculture, mechanization, veterinary services, and groundnut export. EZCF does not generate commercial revenue; its economics are entirely grant-funded, with the €26 million constituting deployable capital rather than organizational top line. The fund's operating model is a transactional, sales-led GTM with a defined eligibility funnel rather than a recurring revenue or SaaS mechanic.
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund
- Legal name
- Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund
- Website
- https://enterprisezambia.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund is a €26 million EU-funded challenge fund managed by Self Help Africa that distributes grants to Zambian agri-enterprises to integrate smallholder farmers into sustainable value chains over 2020-2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Development Finance / Agricultural Grants
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funds (FSANAJAE), Impact Investment & Development Investment Funds (BPADACAO)
Keywords
Where ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lusaka
- HQ country
- Zambia
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- European Union Funding: The primary funding source is the European Union's ABSO programme, specifically the 'Support to the Sustainable Commercialization of Zambia's Smallholder Farmers Programme'. Self Help Africa with Imani Development manage the €26m fund over five years (2020-2025).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Size A - Larger Companies: EUR 200,000 to EUR 1,000,000 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Size B - Smaller Companies: EUR 70,000 to EUR 300,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund is a €26 million grant-making challenge fund running from 2020 to 2025 that provides co-financing grants (covering up to 50% of project cost) and technical advisory services to small and medium-sized agri-enterprises in Zambia. The fund runs four competitive application rounds (Calls 1–4) and focuses on integrating smallholder farmers into market-integrated, nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart value chains in agribusiness, agroforestry and aquaculture.
Product overview
The Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund is a grant-based challenge fund that supports agribusinesses in Zambia. The primary offering is a grant program (€26m, 2020-2025) that provides financial support to SMEs integrating smallholder farmers into value chains. The fund operates four grant cycles (Calls 1-4) and supplements grants with technical advisory services. Supporting offerings include Learning Briefs on agricultural finance topics, Project Factsheets, and beneficiary testimonials. The fund does not offer a technology platform or software product—the support is delivered through direct grants, advisory services, and knowledge resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund Grants (Challenge Fund Programme) A €26 million challenge fund (2020–2025) providing co-financing grants covering up to 50% of total project cost (€150,000–€1,000,000 per enterprise) to small and medium-sized agri-enterprises in Zambia that integrate smallholder farmers into sustainable value chains in agribusiness, agroforestry and aquaculture. Requires applicant to contribute the remaining 50% via cash, credit or equity.
- Technical Advisory Services Post-award technical advisory services provided to grant recipients to support project implementation, capacity building, climate-smart agriculture adoption, and smallholder integration. Delivered by Self Help Africa and Imani Development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Target: 150,000 smallholder farmers integrated into sustainable value chains
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Self Help AfricacoreLead fund manager for Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund. International development organization working with smallholder farmers in 9 Sub-Saharan African countries. Manages the EUR 26m fund including grant administration, monitoring and evaluation, and portfolio management.
- Imani Development LtdcoreTechnical support partner providing development consultancy expertise. Facilitates economic growth and poverty reduction with over 30 years experience in East and Southern Africa. Provides technical advisory services to fund recipients.
- Government of ZambiacoreGovernment partner providing cooperation through Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and National Authorizing Office. Supports policy alignment and regulatory coordination for the challenge fund activities.
- BetterWorld EnergyminorPartner with Good Nature Agro providing personalized agronomic advice informed by soil analysis and satellite data to increase yields and land health.
- Conservation Farming Unit (CFU)minorPartners with Saro Agro to develop accessible farming equipment supporting mechanization and climate-smart agriculture implementation.
- SolidaridadminorPartners with ASBA Resources to increase capacity of smallholder livestock farmers through rural hubs providing water reservoirs, grazing, and training.
- Canon GarthminorBritish parent company of New Rotations Farming Zambia. Specialises in groundnut supply chains globally, purchasing all export-grade produce for international snack, confectionery, peanut butter, and food ingredients markets.
- Pan African Leather (PAL)minorTannery services provider contracted by ASBA Hides to process cattle hides at their site in Kabwe.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AgDevCo: UK-based specialist impact investor providing debt and equity to African agribusiness SMEs. Directly comparable as a development-financed vehicle that catalyses smallholder integration via structured finance to agri-enterprises.
- Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF): Public-private blended finance fund for African agriculture managed by Deutsche Bank and financed by KfW/BMZ/EU. Comparable as a donor-backed facility investing across African agricultural value chains.
- Root Capital: US-based nonprofit impact investor providing capital and capacity building to agricultural SMEs in Africa and Latin America. Directly comparable as a non-traditional financier of smallholder-linked agri-enterprises.
- Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings: Impact fund manager investing in West African agricultural SMEs with donor-backed capital. Comparable fund-of-funds and direct investment vehicle for value chain SMEs similar to EZCF's recipients.
- Phatisa Group: Pan-African private equity fund manager focused on food and agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable as a sector specialist with DFI capital investing in mid-market African agribusiness.
- Silverlands Fund: African agriculture-focused private equity fund managed by SilverStreet Capital. Directly comparable as a multi-country vehicle backing agri-SMEs and primary production across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Small Foundation: European foundation focused on catalysing commercially viable African agricultural SME ecosystems. Comparable as a donor-funded, systems-level intervention in African smallholder-linked value chains.
Broad incumbents
- FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank): European DFI providing blended finance across sectors including agriculture. Comparable as a donor/government-backed financier in the same EU development finance ecosystem as EZCF's EIB partner.
- International Finance Corporation (IFC): World Bank Group DFI investing across emerging markets including agribusiness in Africa. Comparable as a global, donor-backed development finance institution active in the same value chain space.
Emerging players
- Acumen Fund: Global nonprofit impact investor with Africa agricultural portfolio. Comparable as a donor-funded, non-traditional investment vehicle backing enterprises serving low-income populations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund social profiles
Digital presenceENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund
What does ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund do?
Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund is a €26 million grant-making challenge fund running from 2020 to 2025 that provides co-financing grants (covering up to 50% of project cost) and technical advisory services to small and medium-sized agri-enterprises in Zambia. The fund runs four competitive application rounds (Calls 1–4) and focuses on integrating smallholder farmers into market-integrated, nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart value chains in agribusiness, agroforestry and aquaculture.
Is ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund a public or private company?
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund founded?
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund based?
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund is headquartered in Lusaka, Zambia, in the Africa region.
How does ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund make money?
One revenue line is on record: european Union Funding.
Who are ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AgDevCo, Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF), Root Capital, Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings, Phatisa Group, Silverlands Fund and Small Foundation. Broad incumbents are FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank) and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Acumen Fund is listed as an emerging player.
Does ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund.
What industry is ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund in?
ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund's product category is Development Finance / Agricultural Grants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors), with a secondary code of FSANAJAE, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funds. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8742.