Business Enabling Project
Facilitating Broad-based Economic Growth in Rural Areas
Challenge
Zambia’s economy can benefit by diversifying its production and export structure from low value products, dominated by primary commodities, to high value products. In rural areas, the primary economic activities are subsistence and small-scale farming, while industrial activity and jobs are concentrated in urban centers. Despite progress and many strong policies in Zambia, challenges such as duplicative regulations and licensing, siloed information, and policy implementation gaps created an unfavorable business environment, and constrained private sector investment, particularly in rural areas. These challenges often disproportionately affected women and women-led businesses.
Approach
The Business Enabling Project catalyzed private-sector investment in agriculture, eco-tourism, energy, sustainable natural resource management, and trade in rural areas of Zambia. The Project used a demand-driven approach to broaden economic participation through business enabling policy reform, public-private dialogue, and institutional strengthening. It promoted greater engagement between the public and private sectors on key challenges facing rural businesses, empowering local organizations to carry on activities beyond the project’s lifespan.
Selected Results
Through a localized approach, BEP trained local firms to continue strengthening the business enabling environment.
Worked with line Ministries to facilitate public-private consultation on bills and regulations, engaging experts to draft concept notes and roadmaps for operationalization.
Established and strengthened relationships and facilitated collaboration with the Zambian government, private sector associations, and civil society organizations.
Supported the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts to enhance Zambia’s Electronic Single Window System (ZESW), increasing market access and market information systems.
Assisted the Agribusiness Association of Zambia (ABAZ) to enhance its participation in policy formulation and advocacy.
Conducted an institutional capacity assessment with the National Association for Smallholder Farmers (NASFA) to enhance its capacity to engage on policy and conduct advocacy activities.
Collaborated with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry (MCTI) to streamline regulatory requirements.