Zambia Development Agency (ZDA)
and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
have partnered in a programme aimed at conducting
various Business Development Support Services (BDS) as
well as business mentorship for young entrepreneurs.
The programme which is being implemented under the
“Building Young Futures Programme” focuses on enhancing
the capacity of existing and potential entrepreneurs by
encouraging them to formalize, improve business
management and get market access leading to increased
business survival and growth.
ZDA’s Enterprise Development Division whose mandate is to
facilitate the development of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country by providing various
business support services to assist MSMEs enhance their
competencies is spearheading the programme.
Director Enterprise Development, Makasa Mukula, says
some of the activities conducted for the youth include
conducting business assessment; business clinics in
partnership with PACRA; ZRA and CEEC; sensitising the
participants on the benefits of formalising their businesses
and providing business incubation services.
Other activities are facilitating business linkages for youths
with products and services with buyers; monitoring and
evaluation and continuous mentorship.
“About 1,479 young entrepreneurs and women have
benefited from this programme in all the ten provinces of
the country” said Mr. Mukula.
He says participants were exposed to organisations involved
in business formalisation in order to make them legal
entities that can do business with other business houses.
The programme will translate into job and wealth creation
as these enterprises will grow and employ more people.
Consequently, the programme seeks to enhance the capacity
of young people in business management and market
access skills for increased business survival and growth.
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