Deadline Date: February 15, 2026
Hivos, in partnership with Green Governance Zimbabwe and the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Organisation, is calling on young entrepreneurs in Bulawayo and Mutare Urban/Peri-Urban to apply for the Export Readiness Training Program under the Youth Green Transition Project Phase 2.
The program focuses on empowering youth-led enterprises in agriculture value chains, including agro-processing, horticulture, agritech, agri-fintech, waste management, waste upcycling, and green value addition, with the objective of equipping them with the skills and knowledge to harness the economic and health benefits of the green transition and to develop products and brands capable of competing in international and export markets.
The initiative builds on the success of Phase 1, which supported start-ups and entry-level youth green entrepreneurs, and now targets more established youth-led agribusinesses that have the potential for growth and export development. The program follows a tiered capacity-building approach starting with an introductory Export Readiness Training for 60 selected youths, followed by advanced technical training for the top 10 performing youth enterprises, and culminating in a pitching competition where five winners will enter an intensive mentorship program and have the possibility to receive a seed grant.
Eligible applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old, residents of Mutare or Bulawayo (including youth enterprises within a 30–60 kilometre peripheral region), operating a business in the targeted sectors for at least one year with a minimum of three staff, and must have a traceable physical space of operation along with a proof of concept.
This program represents a unique opportunity for young Zimbabwean entrepreneurs to scale their green enterprises, access international markets, and contribute to a sustainable economic transition in their communities.
For more information, visit Hivos.
