The USAID TradeBoost project serves as a catalyst for job creation. The objective is to decrease rural poverty by increasing incomes and boosting the participation of women and youth in Zambia’s economic development. The project uses a green growth approach to reduce the negative impact on Zambia’s natural resources and promote climate positive investment. USAID TradeBoost co-invests with private-sector partners to increase gender-equitable trade and investment for Zambian enterprises.
The program stimulates trade and investment, particularly to women and youth, to generate inclusive growth. USAID TradeBoost helps facilitate trade deals through targeted technical assistance and grants to open up markets to expand trade domestically and internationally including to and from the United States. USAID TradeBoost facilitates access to finance, including from commercial banks and alternative sources such as impact investors.
- Life of Project: March 2022 - September 2026
- Geographic Focus: Nationwide
- Implementing Partner: Development Alternatives International (DAI)
- Chief of Party: Juan Estrada-Valle - juan_estrada@atiprogram.com
- Total USAID Funding: $30 million
- USAID Zambia Contact: Mlotha Damaseke - MDamaseke@usaid.gov
GOALS
goal one
Improve small- and medium-sized enterprises’ access to market information and market development.
goal two
Increase high-quality, full time jobs in Zambia and the United States.
goal three
Improve the profitability and value of Zambian goods traded across borders.
goal four
Facilitate an increase in investment and financing for Zambian small- and medium-sized enterprises.
KEY RESULTS FOR 2023
$28 million in trade deals, 18 in agribusiness and two in the critical minerals sectors
Established five seasonal open markets that provided nearly 5,600 smallholder farmers increased access to markets, higher incomes, and access to time-saving equipment.
Farmers traded over 4,500 metric tonnes of maize, groundnuts, soybeans, and sunflower, with sales over $1.6 million.
