Building Zambia'sBio-Economyfrom the Ground Up
The Matemo incubator identifies, supports and connects enterprises building viable businesses from Zambia's non-timber forest products.
An incubator built for
Zambia's forest economy
The B2B incubator is implemented by AVSF Zambia with core funding from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). It sits within a broader sustainable forest management programme across the North-Luangwa landscape — working across three components: forest management, community producer groups, and commercial value chains.
The incubator is the commercial engine of that programme. It provides structured advisory support, market linkages and direct exposure to buyers, investors and supply chain partners — giving entrepreneurs and SMEs everything they need to build viable businesses from Zambia's forest products.
Programme at a Glance
What we provide
Comprehensive, structured support to help you build a commercially sustainable NTFP enterprise.
Business Planning
Develop or refine your business model with expert guidance tailored to NTFP value chains.
Market Intelligence
Access market data, pricing insights and demand analysis for honey, mushrooms and other NTFPs.
Supply Chain Linkages
Connect directly with verified community producer groups for reliable, sustainable supply.
Technical Training
Build capacity in processing, quality assurance, packaging and product development.
Compliance & Standards
Navigate food safety, certification and regulatory requirements for all markets.
Investment Readiness
Prepare for growth financing through investor-ready documentation and pitch support.
Built for commercially
minded operators
Startup Entrepreneurs
Individuals with a viable concept or early-stage enterprise in the NTFP sector, at any stage of development.
Processors & Aggregators
Businesses that buy, aggregate and process raw NTFPs from community producers for domestic or export markets.
Adjacent-sector SMEs
Established businesses in food processing, logistics or trade looking to add NTFP value chains to their operations.
Traders & Product Developers
Operators sourcing Zambian NTFPs for resale, or innovators creating new consumer products from forest resources.
Three interconnected components
Forest Management
Sustainable natural resource management and conservation across the North-Luangwa landscape.
Producer Groups
Strengthening community producer organisations for reliable, quality NTFP harvesting.
Value Chains
Commercial value chain development through the NTFP Business Incubator/Accelerator.