Mark Ireland – Team Leader, ENTERPRISE Zambia, Self Help Africa Mark has worked in international development since 1993 for NGOs, consultancy companies and academic institutions. He has worked for Self Help Africa and its sister organisation, Partner Africa, since 2006 in a range of roles that supported high quality programme development, effective preparation of major funding proposals, programme management including advising on monitoring and evaluation, developing and managing strategic partnerships and supporting capacity development of Partner Africa and Self Help Africa staff and partners. ENTERPRISE Zambia is a Challenge Fund, funded by the European Union, to strengthen agricultural value chains (including agro-forestry and aquaculture). The project, run by Self Help Africa and Imani Development, has reached over 150,000 small scale farmers by providing financial support to agri-food businesses with inclusive business models. The projects help transition to greener and more sustainable agri-food systems and created more than 3,000 new full time equivalent jobs in the supported companies by February 2025. EUR 19.4m has been awarded to 28 agri-businesses through the ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund. EZCF has driven significant growth in business performance, industry partnerships, and farmer support by providing resources, training, and infrastructure. These interventions have led to increased revenue, sustainability, and resilience. Employees benefited from professional development, while smallholder farmers gained better access to inputs, financing, and mechanisation, which in turn boosted productivity.