Agriculture is a key sector for social and human development in Zimbabwe and Zambia. It employs 65% and 75% of the population, respectively, and accounts for 15% and 19% of GDP. The sector is a pillar of a once prosperous economy in Zimbabwe, but its yields and production have been reduced since the early 2000s.

In Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, Proparco has committed to three facilities with NMB Bank Limited, cementing its partnership with the bank. The facility package includes a USD 15 million credit facility, a USD 5 million EURIZ portfolio guarantee, and a USD 5 million trade finance guarantee, targeting SMEs, the agriculture sector, women entrepreneurs, and local importing and exporting businesses.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and French Ambassador Laurent Chevallier celebrated today the inauguration of a new seed maize dryer, which will greatly increase local farmer’s harvests while contributing to the adaptation of sub-Saharan agriculture to climate change. This seed dryer was financed through a loan granted by Proparco in 2020.

Proparco is providing Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe with a EUR 5 million EURIZ facility to support its ability to offer long term finance to local farmers operating in the Zimbabwean agricultural sector. The signing ceremony was held in Harare on 29 October 2024, in the presence of representatives from Proparco, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, the French Embassy and the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe.