FINANCIAL SUPPORTapplying – Call 3

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In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must comply with all the criteria listed below:

• Must be an agri-enterprise involved in the production of food fiber, ranching and raising of livestock, aquaculture, agroforestry or other farming and agricultural related industries.
• Must be incorporated in Zambia as a company or a cooperative/association;
• Must be compliant with all national and local laws and regulations; including meeting all obligations relating to the payment of taxes and social security contribution and relevant health and safety and environmental standards;
• Must be a for-profit entity;
• Must demonstrate experience in the project proposal for current or future integration of smallholder farmers in existing or new value chain(s) in the project’s areas;
• For size A-Larger Companies, the business must have at least three (3) years of uninterrupted operations in Zambia at the date of application, with focus on eligible activities (see above for more specific examples), or
• For size B-Smaller Companies, the business must have at least two (2) years of uninterrupted operations in Zambia at the date of application, with focus on eligible activities (see above for more specific examples).
• For size A-Larger Companies, the business must have a yearly turnover in one of the last two (2) years of at least EUR 200,000 as evidenced by audited accounts, or
• For size B-Smaller Companies, the business must have a yearly turnover in one of the last two (2) years of at least EUR 100,000 and at most, EUR 500,000 as evidenced by audited accounts.
• Must be able to contribute at least 50% of the project cost through a blend of cash and cash equivalents, credit or equity from own or third-party sources.
• For size A-Larger Companies, the business must have three (3) years of financial statements including audited accounts for the two (2) most recent years plus management accounts for the third year. The audited accounts should have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by an accountant accredited by the Zambia Institute of Certified Accountants (ZICA), or;
• For size B-Smaller Companies, the business must have two (2) years of financial statements including audited accounts for the most recent year plus management accounts for the second year. The audited accounts should have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by an accountant accredited by the Zambia Institute of Certified Accountants (ZICA),
• Must be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the implementing partners, not acting as an intermediary.

• The lead applicant must meet all the eligibility criteria in its own right and will be held accountable for the implementation of the action including the management and accountability of the implementing partner(s). Therefore, applicants are encouraged to carefully vet their implementing partners to ensure they are operating legally in line with the laws of Zambia and have the capacity to fulfill the role outlined in the proposed project.