From 2017 to 2022, CO-Harare was implementing the Youth and Women Project (YWEP) in Mutoko, Beitbridge, Lupane and Guruve districts. After successfully implementing this project, the Africa Development Bank has again chosen the ILO as a partner to be trusted with a second phase which will run from 2022 to 2026.

This phase titled the “Sustainable Enterprise Development for Women and Youth (SEDWAY) will contribute towards: increasing productive capacity of youth farmers in the horticulture value chain at Tabudirira Vocational Training Centre in Mutoko District, where it will facilitate technical training and the setting up of greenhouses that will be linked to the already established Anchor Enterprise; establish a Fruit and Vegetable Processing Anchor Enterprise at Hauna in Mutasa District, where a site has been availed by the District Council; establish two safe market places for women and youth in Bulawayo and Masvingo; and support the setting up of a milk collection centre in Umguza.

The project will also support the Government of Zimbabwe to develop gender mainstreaming guidelines for eleven ministries, review and align the Broad-Based Women Economic Empowerment Framework to National Development Strategy 1(NDS1), develop the Gemstones Beneficiation and Value Addition, develop the Minerals Development Strategy and build the capacity of cross border traders on COMESA and SADC Simplified Trade Regimes.

For additionality, under the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF), the Bank has availed a further US$1million towards “Business Growth for Youth Employment” (BG4YE). This component is to reach out to an increased number young and growth oriented male and female entrepreneurs and their workers – in the same locations as SEDWAY. It also aims to strengthen their capacities to pursue profitable economic opportunities. This will be with a particular focus on the value chains of the anchor enterprise in the various locations. Focus will also be on off-farm sub-sectors, such as light manufacturing of goods and agro-processing value addition to create employment opportunities for additional young men and women.

Further, capacities of business development service providers will be enhanced to provide demand driven entrepreneurship and business management training and on-the-job workplace support. This intervention may also adequately empower them to approach financial institutions for capital. It has been observed that currently, youth-run SMEs in Zimbabwe have very limited access to capital and financial services.

Furthermore, a cohort of mentors and coaches capacity to support the young entrepreneurs as they grow their ventures will be strengthened. This support will also extend to mentoring them in developing new innovative ideas for potential new businesses or the growth of existing businesses; including incubation, where the new ideas are validated in the market; and scaling-up, where existing and new assets are identified.

The proposed BG4YE also aligns with the AfDB’s Strategy for 2013-2022 (Ten Year Strategy); the Private Sector Development Policy and Strategy (2013-2017, extended until 2020) and the High 5-5 priority. These strategies aim to broaden economic opportunities for youth and develop skills for job creation, as well as improve the quality of life for people of Africa, respectively.

BG4YE also supports youth entrepreneurship and innovation, which are central to employment creation and economic growth. The proposal equally aligns to the key objective of the Zimbabwe NDS1: 2021-2025, which is promoting new enterprise development, employment and job creation for Zimbabwe.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will be the Executing Agency, with high level coordination by the Project Management Unit under the Ministry; through a Tripartite Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the AfDB and the ILO

The ILO shall be the technical implementing partner and will receive the full budget and be responsible for all project roll-out and finances