Quarterly Report: Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced (EDGE) Activity

The program aims to create jobs and increase profitability of agricultural Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia. To achieve this goal, EDGE works to improve the SMEs' competitiveness and access to finance. The program uses a facilitative approach and works closely with and through local partners to drive lasting systemic changes that create sustainable impact at scale. EDGE focuses on two primary objectives: increasing access to finance for agricultural SMEs and increasing competitiveness for SMEs' products. To achieve the first objective, ACDI/VOCA works to strengthen the ability of banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) to serve SMEs and catalyze the growth of non-bank financial institutions. The program builds the capacity of financial service providers (FSPs) and introduces new financial products that enable them to develop tailored loan and investment products to cover the entire range of SME financial needs. To achieve the second objective, EDGE works to strengthen SME management and marketing capacity and improve network input/output relationships. Through a business advisor network, ACDI/VOCA supports agricultural SMEs to reduce costs and increase efficiency by strengthening managerial capacity and improving their ability to seek and qualify for loans. This approach will increase the profitability of agricultural SMEs by facilitating greater revenue through increased sales and expanding access to new markets with premium sales prices. Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion (GYSI) is a key component of the EDGE program. EDGE is committed to increasing gender equality and youth and women empowerment, so they can participate in and benefit fully from EDGE activities as SME owners, managers, and employees. The program mainstreams GYSI throughout project interventions and facilitates targeted empowerment activities as needed. Through the GYSI analysis and resulting GYSI strategy and action plans, EDGE identified and prioritized key gender- and age-related obstacles and actions, including facilitating capacity building for women and youth. The EDGE program operates in Central, Eastern, and Lusaka Province, with a focus on improving the competitiveness and access to finance of agricultural SMEs. The program works closely with local partners, including financial service providers, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, and the Ministry of Finance, as well as multiple small- and medium-enterprises. By improving the competitiveness and access to finance of agricultural SMEs, EDGE aims to create jobs and increase profitability, particularly for youth and women.