Green Finance

This lesson equips circular economy businesses with the knowledge and practical skills needed to successfully access green finance and matching grants. Participants will explore the GREENTech4CE 50–50 matching grant model, eligibility requirements, and application scoring criteria. They will learn how to develop a strong concept note and full application, prepare realistic financial projections, and demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) of circular business models.

The lesson also introduces Zambia’s broader green finance ecosystem, including impact investors, development finance institutions, AfDB/ACEF and other funding opportunities. Participants will further learn about common mistakes in EU-funded grant applications and practical ways to strengthen their submissions and avoid rejection.

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

• Understand the GREENTech4CE matching grant structure, eligibility criteria and scoring rubric.
• Develop a compelling concept note and complete grant application.
• Prepare financial projections for a circular business and demonstrate its potential ROI.
• Identify relevant green finance and investment opportunities in Zambia.
• Recognise common application errors and improve their chances of meeting EU-funded call requirements.