Govt claims thousands of women to benefit from K5,200 small business grants

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services says about 29,689 women are expected to benefit from the Supporting Women Livelihoods (SWL) Initiative, under which each beneficiary will receive a K5,200 grant to grow and strengthen their small businesses.

The intervention is being implemented under Phase One of the Girls and Women Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme (GEWEL II), with financial and technical support from the World Bank.

Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer, Glenda Nachinga, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Nachinga said the programme is part of government’s broader agenda to reduce poverty, enhance household incomes, and promote inclusive economic growth, particularly among vulnerable women.

“The beneficiaries, aged between 19 and 64 years, have been selected from Social Cash Transfer (SCT) beneficiary households across the country,” she said.

She explained that the deliberate targeting ensured women from the most vulnerable households were provided with productive resources to transition from social assistance to sustainable livelihoods.

To promote transparency and ensure that funds reach the intended recipients, Nachinga said the grants will be disbursed through mobile money platforms.

“The Ministry has also prioritized capacity building as a key pillar of the programme, by ensuring that all identified women undergo Life Skills and Business Management Training,” she said, adding that the training equips beneficiaries with essential knowledge in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, record keeping, and basic business planning.

Nachinga said the programme aligned with the vision of President Hakainde Hichilema, placing women at the center of Zambia’s development agenda and guided by the principle that no one should be left behind.

She added that through programmes such as GEWEL II, the government was transforming social protection into a tool for dignity, productivity, and long-term self-reliance, especially for women and girls.

“As Government, we remain fully committed to expanding women’s access to productive resources, strengthening social protection systems, and building resilient livelihoods that contribute to Zambia’s sustainable development,” she said.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.