Background

The Community Recovery and Resilience Facility (CRRF) project, implemented by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to strengthen community resilience against the impacts of climate change in Eastern Province in Mambwe District.

This pilot project, valued at USD 355,140, focuses on:

• Climate-Resilient Infrastructure – rehabilitation of essential facilities such as water points, drainage systems, and irrigation structures.
• Enhanced Livelihoods – supporting start-up businesses and agriculture-based enterprises to improve household incomes and promote diversification.
• Women’s Empowerment – promoting women’s leadership and participation in decision-making and community-led initiatives.

Objective

This call seeks to provide business grants to community-based organizations and cooperatives in Mambwe District to support initiatives that promote climate-resilient and sustainable livelihoods. Each selected organization will receive up to ZMW 160,000 — inclusive of administrative costs (not exceeding 7.5% of the total budget) — to implement approved projects between November and December 2025.

Eligibility

Eligible projects include:

• Agro-processing and value addition (e.g., honey, cassava flour, groundnut oil)
• Eco-tourism and cultural enterprises
• Renewable energy solutions (e.g., solar-powered services)
• Waste-to-value innovations
• Goat rearing and climate-smart agriculture
• Digital marketing and services for rural communities

Applicants must:

• Be resident in Mambwe District and operate as a registered cooperative or community-based group.
• Have a viable business idea or early-stage enterprise (less than 2 years old).
• Demonstrate potential for social impact, especially benefiting women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Show commitment to environmental sustainability and climate-smart practices.
• Be willing to participate in CRRF capacity-building and monitoring activities.

Evaluation

Proposals will be reviewed by the CRRF Project Steering Committee based on eligibility, technical quality, gender inclusion, innovation, and sustainability. Only proposals scoring 70% and above will qualify for the next stage of evaluation.

Submission of Proposals

All interested organizations must submit complete proposals following the provided templates - downloadable below.

Requests for clarification and applications must be submitted electronically to ops.zm@undp.org no later than 7^th November 2025, 11:59 p.m. Zambia time.

The subject line should read:

“UNDP Support to Community Recovery and Resilience Facility (CRRF)”

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

To review the Terms of Reference and complete the required submission templates, click the link below:

Download the full Call for Proposals package