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The government has reportedly launched the Women Empowerment and Micro Small Enterprises Support Project, aimed at supporting at least 24,000 beneficiaries across Zambia.
The three-year, six-month initiative will be implemented in partnership with We Effect, Civic Forum, Child Fund, and the European Union (EU), Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Elias Mubanga, announced at the launch in Lusaka on Wednesday.
The project will focus on women-led businesses in Mtendere East, Chainda, Ngwerere, John Howard, Mandevu, Garden, Nkoloma, and Chawama, offering training, mentorship, and financial support to boost their sustainability and growth.
Mubanga noted that the government recognizes the critical role that MSMEs play in driving economic development and remains committed to ensuring their success.
He cited International Trade Centre (ITC) data, which indicated that 97 percent of businesses in Zambia were MSMEs and cooperatives, contributing 70 percent to the national GDP and accounting for 88 percent of employment opportunities.
The minister further emphasized the role of access to electricity in creating sustainable business opportunities for marginalized communities, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting women-led enterprises through partnerships with the EU and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, EU Ambassador to Zambia, Karoline Stasiak highlighted the EU’s continued investment in Zambia, revealing that over K10 billion in grants had been mobilized over the past 10 years, spanning various sectors.
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She noted that the EU had supported power generation, including the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam, which was commissioned in August 2024.
Stasiak also cited investments in transmission and distribution, with K2 billion allocated for upgrading and expanding Lusaka’s electricity distribution network, extending to Southern Province.
In promoting clean energy alternatives, the EU has funded the Modern Clean Cooking Facility, benefiting 550,000 Zambians with alternatives to charcoal and wood fuel, backed by a K600 million budget.
Additionally, Stasiak highlighted the ElectriFI programme, which offered financial incentives for solar energy projects to address investment barriers.
She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Zambia’s development goals, particularly in energy, private sector growth, and women-led enterprises.
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