BACKGROUND
The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
administers the Science and Technology Innovation Youth Fund (STIYF). The Fund is implemented by
the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). The Fund is aimed at assisting Zambian youths
to develop scientific and/or technological innovations, with specific focus on innovations that are
relevant to the creation of wealth and employment.
The NSTC is calling for project proposals on scientific and/or technological innovations for funding
under the 2020-2021 STIYF cycle.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be Zambians from 18 to 35 years of age. Applicants are eligible as individuals or as
groups.
Female youths and differently abled persons are strongly encouraged to apply.
DURATION OF THE PROJECT
The project will be supported for a duration of 3 years commencing January of 2021.
FUNDING
The funding ceiling is Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Kwacha (K250,000.00) per project.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
i. Only scientific and/or technological innovations qualify for the Fund.
For the purpose of this Fund, an innovation is “a new scientific and /or technological idea or
an adaptation that would change the way of doing or making something and whose product
or result can be commercialized”.
ii. The innovations must:
a. Address some national priority areas highlighted in the Seventh National
Development Plan (SNDP), Vision 2030 or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
such areas as value addition to raw materials, engineering, mining, transport
systems and infrastructure, water resources, manufacturing and industry,
renewable & alternative energy, human and animal health (preferably addressing
COVID-19), agriculture, livestock and fisheries, environment, construction and
building, Information and Communication Technology, new and emerging
technologies among others.
b. be locally developed or adapted and as far as possible utilising local materials.
iii. The Fund does not support business projects; therefore, business proposals such as rearing
chickens and livestock, vegetable growing, opening internet cafés, salons etc., will not be
accepted.
iv. For more information on the requirement, applicants must read the STIYF Guidelines available
on the NSTC website (www.nstc.org.zm).
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants must fill in and submit the standard Application Form, which is available on the NSTC
website (www.nstc.org.zm), or requested for from E-mail: nstc@nstc.org.zm, and can be obtained
from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) offices, Curriculum Development Centre
Building, Haile Selassie Road, Longacres, Lusaka.

1. Where it is not possible to obtain the Application Form, applications must be written in the
   following format:
   i. General Information: This section should include the following: Title of
   Innovation/project, Category of innovation (corresponding with the priority areas listed in
   the guidelines above), Amount applied for in words and in figures, Applicant(s) full names,
   Sex, NRC or Passport No. Level of education, contact details i.e. Address, Telephone No.,
   Mobile No., E-mail (if applicable). Signature and date.
   ii. Details of the Innovation: This section should clearly give details of the innovation by
   answering the following questions:
   a. Explain in detail how the innovation will work (attach diagrams where applicable) (30
   points)
   b. Explain how you came up with the idea or where you got the idea from (10 points)
   c. What problem(s) in the community/society/country will your innovation solve and
   explain the benefits (30 points)
   d. What materials will be required to make your innovation and indicate the source of
   each of these materials (15 points)
   e. Explain how your innovation is likely to affect the environment, whether positively or
   negatively. What measures will be put in place to address any negative
   environmental effects? (10 points)
   iii. Provisional Budget (5 points): (The final budget will be developed with the assistance of
   an expert from an institution that will supervise your project (the Institution of
   Affiliation)). The provisional budget should list all items required to develop the
   innovation and estimate the cost for each item. The budget should include materials, cost
   of fabrication and other services, operational costs e.g. travel, meetings, communication,
   etc., Institution of Affiliation Administrative cost at 5% of the total budget, Monitoring and
   evaluation cost at 5% of the total budget.
   A copy of the NRC or Passport must be submitted.
   Applications must be submitted electronically to nstc@nstc.org.zm or mailed/delivered to:
   The Executive Secretary
   National Science and Technology Council
   Curriculum Development Centre Building
   Haile Selassie Road, Longacres
   P. O. Box 51309
   Lusaka
   The Closing Date for submitting applications is: Wednesday 30th September 2020
   For further information, contact:
   NSTC on Telephone: +260-211-255854; e-mail nstc@nstc.org.zm