AFDB grants $3.93 million to empower Zimbabwean yo...

AFDB grants $3.93 million to empower Zimbabwean youth and women

Zim Now Writer

The African Development Bank has approved a grant of US$3.93 million to Zimbabwe, aimed at fostering entrepreneurial skills and boosting employment opportunities for young people and women. The grant proceeds will place focus on vocational training and productivity within agricultural value chains.

This initiative, titled Skills Required for Employability and Productivity of Young People and Women in Zimbabwe, emphasizes technical and vocational education and training to create sustainable livelihoods.

According to an AfDB statement, "The core objective of the project is to boost employment opportunities for young people and women through vocational training, increased productivity, market ties, and entrepreneurship in selected agricultural value chains."

The project will link agricultural production with private buyers, ensuring that participants not only gain the necessary skills but also secure positions within the economic value chain. "This market-oriented approach is crucial for ensuring that participants are not only skilled but also integrated into the economic value chain," AfDB highlighted.

Economist, Dr Prosper Chitambara, reiterated the importance of such initiatives, noting that it is a forward-thinking strategy. “This is a commendable approach to inclusive growth,” he said. “Vocational training in agriculture, paired with entrepreneurship and access to markets, will not only create jobs but also increase the productivity of agricultural value chains.”

Sarah Mupona, an entrepreneur, echoed similar sentiments, noting the project's focus on women-led enterprises. “Zimbabwe’s MSME sector is ripe for growth, and this grant could be the catalyst needed to push these enterprises to the next level,” she remarked.

The initiative is anticipated to create thousands in direct jobs, with 5 000 participants benefiting from various technical and business management training programs. The beneficiaries will engage in the production, processing, and marketing of products within horticulture, goat farming, and fishery value chains.

This project builds on the AfDB’s ongoing efforts to support Zimbabwe’s rural population. The bank’s previous programs, such as the Youth and Women Empowerment Project and the Sustainable Enterprise Development for Women and Youth Project, laid the foundation for this new phase of support.

The AfDB’s grant not only aims to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of young people and women but also supports broader efforts to improve food security and foster economic resilience.