ZIMBABWE - Harare recently witnessed the launch of a US$1 million revolving fund aimed at empowering women and youth in agribusiness. 

The initiative, known as the Creating Adaptable and Unique Systems for Financing Entrepreneurial Women and Youth (CAUSEWAY), seeks to provide seed capital to support commercially viable agribusiness ventures. 

The fund was established through a partnership between the Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust (ZADT), the British Embassy, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

The British Embassy contributed £500,000 (US$654,585), while ZADT matched this with a US$500,000 input, creating a total of US$1 million to fuel the growth of agribusiness enterprises led by women and youth. 

Sweden also played a role by funding capacity-building activities for these entrepreneurs, further enhancing the reach of the initiative.

Financial inclusion and economic growth

During the launch event, RBZ Deputy Governor Dr Jesimen Chipika emphasized the importance of the revolving fund, highlighting its potential to drive financial inclusion for disadvantaged groups. 

Dr Chipika highlighted the critical role this initiative would play in fostering sustainable agricultural growth, with women and youth seen as the driving force behind Zimbabwe’s growing agricultural production.

British Embassy Development Director and Deputy Ambassador, Dr Joanne Abbot, praised the fund as an enabler for economic growth and job creation. She noted that restricted access to finance remains one of the main barriers to private sector development in Zimbabwe. 

Dr Abbot expressed optimism that the revolving fund would address this constraint, unlocking opportunities for growth in green businesses that would positively impact jobs and livelihoods, particularly for women and youth.

“We look forward to the utilization of the revolving fund by various financial institutions, to grow green businesses in Zimbabwe that will create and improve jobs and livelihoods especially for Zimbabwean women and youth,” said Dr Abbot.

Partnership for inclusive financing

ZADT CEO Mr Godfrey Chinoera described the collaboration between ZADT, the British Embassy, the Swedish Embassy, and RBZ as a key milestone in creating an inclusive financing system that would support the aspirations of young and female entrepreneurs across the country.

ZADT Communications Officer Miss Karen Maturure provided further insights, noting that representatives from financial institutions, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and smallholder farmers had participated in panel discussions during the launch. 

These discussions explored the challenges and opportunities in agribusiness financing, with an emphasis on the need for ongoing collaboration between public and private sectors to ensure the long-term success of the CAUSEWAY initiative.

Miss Maturure explained that the fund would be administered in partnership with local commercial and micro-finance institutions, supporting capacity-building activities, business incubation, and mentorship for youth and women entrepreneurs. 

The fund is accessible as a loan through financial institutions, with beneficiaries expected to repay the loan within a short period to ensure more individuals can benefit from the facility.

Broad access to funds

The revolving fund is open to men between the ages of 18 and 35, while for women, it covers both youth (18–35 years) and those over 35, up to the age of 65. 

So far, four commercial banks and six micro-finance institutions have signed up for the facility and will receive technical support on lending to rural and peri-urban enterprises. 

The AFC Holdings group and several micro-finance institutions are already providing working capital loans to beneficiaries under a value-chain approach, aimed at streamlining repayments and expanding outreach.

According to Miss Maturure, “The shorter the repayment period, the better the outreach,” as this allows the fund to revolve more efficiently, benefiting more entrepreneurs in the long term.

Supporting agribusiness growth in Zimbabwe

ZADT, a non-profit agricultural finance institution, has long been committed to promoting sustainable agricultural development in Zimbabwe. 

Through innovative financing solutions, capacity building, and mentorship, ZADT supports agribusiness entrepreneurs seeking to contribute to the country’s agricultural sector. 

The CAUSEWAY initiative, which will run for three years, is seen as a vital step toward improving access to finance for women and youth-led agro enterprises in Zimbabwe, with a focus on promoting inclusive and sustainable agribusiness growth.

By addressing one of the most pressing challenges faced by small-scale farmers and agribusiness owners—the lack of access to affordable financing—the revolving fund is set to play a key role in enhancing the productivity and resilience of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.