Call for Proposals: Integrated Development Partnerships with the Private Sector in Zambia

The AWARE 2.0 project is looking for project ideas by private companies in sustainable value chains interested to establish partnerships with local communities/groups/cooperatives to expand their business and improve market access/value chain development/create job opportunities (Window 1) and financial institutions interesting in partnering with green, sustainable SMEs (Window 2) supporting the restoration and protection of degraded landscapes.

AWARE 2.0 is looking for interested applicants and project ideas to establish partnerships between third parties with the aim of sustainable resource mobilization for landscape restoration and protection. This includes:

• Window 1: Partnerships between communities and private companies active in sustainable value chains targeting the development, piloting and upscaling of products and services to improve market access and alternative livelihoods for communities in the Lower Kafue Sub-Catchment, provide income and job opportunities for community members and support landscape restoration & protection.
• Window 2: Partnerships between financial institutions and sustainable, green SMEs on improving access to finance for these companies and enabling them to grow and support landscape restoration & protection.

This is your opportunity to jointly work on a project to:

• Co-develop and scale-up sustainable products and services that can reduce pressure ecosystems
• Strengthen your portfolio through measurable impact and partnerships with local communities.

Objectives

• Key project outputs are:
  • Improved capacities of the central government to execute its mandate for the integrated management of water catchments, including landscape protection, with a focus on climate adaptation.
  • Improved capacities of decentralised authorities to plan, protect and sustainably manage water catchment ecosystems with a focus on climate adaptation in the selected landscape.
  • Improved capacities of Water Resources Management governance structures to sustainably manage and resolve water resource disputes/ conflicts in the Lower Kafue Sub-Catchment.
  • Successful measures for water catchment management, landscape restoration and protection, and climate adaptation are being implemented on a larger scale in the Lower Kafue Catchment.

Funding Information

• The contribution from AWARE 2.0/GIZ is estimated to be between EUR 15,000 and EUR 90,000 for each iDPP (or ZMW equivalent) and can only be half of the average annual revenue/turnover over the last two years of the respective partner company.
• Duration: November 2023 – April 2028.

Expected Outcomes

• Key results are:
  • Contributions to a strategy for rainwater harvesting and strategic financing for integrated water catchment management;
  • Facilitating 6 partnerships for sustainable resource mobilisation and financing between actors from private sector, government, civil society or local authorities;
  • Protection of 213,000 hectares of water, land and forestry areas;
  • Up to 120,000 people benefitting from enhanced water security and improved resilience to negative impacts of climate change;
  • Development of standardised process for water conflict resolution and mediation;
  • Support to 8 decentralised plans to protect and sustainably manage water catchment eco-systems.

Eligibility Criteria

• Window 1: Private companies (registered and operating in Zambia) in sustainable value chains that can reduce pressure from ecosystems or create incentives for landscape restoration and protection (e.g. animal and plant based Non-Timber Forestry Products, bio charcoal, climate-smart, sustainable agriculture, livestock or aquaculture with a clear link to ecosystem restoration and protection). Companies can apply as a single entity or as a consortium.
• Window 2: Financial institutions (registered and operating in Zambia) that aim at expanding/improving their product offering to sustainable, green SMEs in Zambia.

For more information, visit GIZ Zambia.