SECOND AICCRA ZAMBIA ACCELERATOR GRANT MECHANISM TO BUILD CLIMATE RESILIENCE AMONG THE 'MISSING MIDDLE '



By Alfonso Kasongo

Zambia’s agriculture transformation agenda to align it to climate variability is moving in a realisation trajectory as IWMI in partnership with AICCRA is scheduled  to unveil a second phase of the AICCRA Zambia Accelerator Grant Mechanism.

The new Accelerator Grant is designed to empower SMEs, start-ups, and other key players in the Zambian agribusiness ecosystem to enhance climate smart agriculture. 

On 27 October,2021, IWMI with the help from the World Bank launched the first AICCRA-Zambia Accelerator Grant amounting to about US$ 250,000 to support 5 agri-business, that was to innovative agribusinesses and starter-up  partnerships in the country with focus on climate change challenges.

The  first Accelerator Grant aimed at boosting climate science support to small and medium agri-businesses and start-ups  in the country where 5 successful partnerships received upto $50,000 grant each. 

Meanwhile, the second Accelerator Gant, scheduled  for the launch on 19th June, 2024,in Lusaka, aims at  building inclusive climate resilience and use of climate science to support Zambia’s ‘missing middle’ – small and medium agribusinesses and start-ups

According to AICCRA Zambia,  the second grant "provides an opportunity to amplify sustainable climate-smart agriculture activities and enhances access to vital climate information services."

However,during the 2023-2024 rainy season, Zambia experienced one of the worst climate variability (prolonged dry spell) due to climate change and El Nino weather phenomenon.

Due to influence of El Nino on the 2023-2024 rainy season, the country lost one million hectares equivalent to about 2.5 million acres from 2.2 million planted crops.

84 out of 116 districts were affected,the situation that triggered the government to declare the drought as a national disaster,requiring humanitarian aid. 


 

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