BACKGROUND
The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Ministry of Science and Technology 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 2021-2022 STIYF cycle.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be Zambians aged 35 years of age or below. Applicants are eligible as individuals or as groups or organisations.
Female youths and differently abled persons are strongly encouraged to apply.
DURATION OF THE PROJECT
Successful and approved projects shall commence in January, 2022 and the planned maximum project duration shall not exceed three (3) years.
FUNDING
The funding ceiling is Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Kwacha (K250,000.00) per approved 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 or adapted idea, process, product or service that improves a way of doing something and can be commercially viable for the benefit of society”
ii. The innovations must:
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a. Address some national priority areas highlighted in the Seventh National
Development Plan (7NDP), 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 emerging challenges of 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 raw
materials.
iii. Please, note that 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) and Facebook page .
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. For the Application form click here.
Applications can also be written in the following format (Only where it is not possible to obtain an Application Form):
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) (35 points)
b. Explain how you came up with the idea or where you got the idea from (15 points)
c. What problem(s) in the community/society/country will your innovation solve and explain the benefits (20 points)
d. What raw materials will be required to make your innovation and indicate the source of each of these raw materials (10 points)
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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? (5 points)
f. Explain the economic potential and sustainability of the proposed innovation. (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 must be submitted for applicants above the age of 16 years. In the case of a minor, the mentor must submit a copy of their NRC.
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: 22nd October, 2021
EVALUATION, REVIEW AND SELECTION OF PROJECTS FOR FUNDING
Proposals will be evaluated and reviewed by independent experts. Selection of projects for funding will be on merit and priority, taking into consideration the originality, innovativeness and strong commercialization potential of the proposed project.
Note:
i. Applications that do not meet ALL the requirements stated in this Call and that do not adhere to ALL instructions in the Application Form will not be considered.
ii. Proposals will be selected on merit and priority and the decision of the Fund Management Committee shall be final.
For further information, contact NSTC on Telephone: +260-211-255854; e-mail nstc@nstc.org.zm

For the Application form click here.

Please note that the form must be downloaded and filled in by applicants. Then it should be submitted to either nstc@nstc.org.zm or srf@nstc.org.zm via email.