MINISTRY OF YOUTH, GENDER

SPORT AND CULTURE

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND GUIDELINES

YDF

AUGUST 2022
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

YOUTH
Any person who falls within the age range 15 – 35 years. The applicant shouldn’t have reached thirty-six
(36) years at the time of application.

Target group will be young people aged 18- 35years.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH
Any youth who is currently not attending school and/or enrolled in full-time training.

UNEMPLOYED YOUTH
Any youth who is not engaged in any form of employment or operating any form of business.

UNDEREMPLOYED YOUTH
Any youth who falls under the following:

 Employed on a part-time/full time basis and earning P2, 500 and below per month.
 Should such applicants be approved they will be required to resign from work.
 Applicants with existing businesses should produce any form of financial record (e.g. bank
statement, financial statement, etc.) to account for the business’ performance for the latest
three (3) months.

DEDC
District Economic Development Committee. This is a government structure used at district level for
adjudication of YDF applications

(Note: a salary slip and/or employment letter should be produced as proof of employment)

RECIPIENT/BENEFICIARIES
Youth who has been funded under the Youth Development Fund.

YOUTH INDUSTRY
Refers to a business that is labour/capital intensive and or with high production yields owned and run by
a minimum of 5 to 10 people.

COOPERATIVE
Refers to a group of young people with a minimum of 10 people and registered under the Department of
Cooperatives.

FUND
Financial assistance provided to the youth beneficiaries as a combination of a 50% grant and a 50%
interest-free loan.

GRANT
Refers to a portion of the Fund that is not repayable and whose continued enjoyment is dependent on
the beneficiary’s cooperation and strict adherence to stipulated terms and conditions of offer.

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LOAN
A portion of the fund that is repayable without any interest. Interest only accrues in the event of
payment default at the rate of 5% per month on the amount outstanding.

ASSETS
Items acquired for long-term use in the project (e.g. machinery, equipment, tools, furniture, breeding
stock, transport vessels, etc.).

WORKING CAPITAL
Items required supporting the business’ daily operations (e.g. raw materials, office supplies, stationery,
supplementary feed, fertilizers, pesticides, rent, wages/ salaries, water, electricity, fuel & lubricants,
transport hire cost, etc.).

PROJECT COST
The amount required to acquire the project’s assets and adequately cover the working capital
requirements.

APPLICANT’S CONTRIBUTION
The applicant’s personal contribution refers to applicant's input towards the project which could be
material or monetary.

(Note: Where the contribution is in cash the applicant will be required to deposit the amount in the
projects’ business account. In the event asset(s) are pledged proof of ownership and the assets’
condition have to be first ascertained).

GRACE PERIOD
Refers to the period within which the beneficiary is temporarily relieved the burden of servicing the loan
component in order to enable the business to stabilize its cash flow position.

BACKGROUND

The Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC) has been mandated to undertake the process of
empowering the youth holistically. One of the flagship programmes that the Ministry offers is the Youth
Development Fund (YDF), which is a youth enterprise development and support initiative targeting start-
up and or existing businesses owned and implemented by young people.

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 OBJECTIVES OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND (YDF)

• To promote active participation of youth in the socio-economic development of the country.

• To encourage the out of school, marginalized, unemployed and underemployed youth to

venture into sustainable and viable income generating projects.
• To reduce rural-urban migration by making it attractive to start growth-orientated enterprises in
rural areas.
• To create sustainable employment opportunities for young people through the development of
sustainable projects.
• To promote the development of competitive, sustainable and growth-orientated citizen owned
youth enterprises.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1.1 Assistance is available to prospective entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria:

• Botswana citizens aged 18-35 years

• Out-of-school-youth
• Unemployed youth
• Underemployed youth
• A Partnership of young people or a youth cooperative
• A legally registered business/company/cooperative that is owned by young citizens.

1.2 Funding will be availed to the following enterprises:

• Startups: ceiling being 100 000.00 with 50% grant & 50% interest free loan

• Youth industry/cooperative: ceiling being 450 000.00 with 50% grant &50% interest free loan.

1.3 All projects should be conceptualized, initiated and implemented by eligible youth who shall be
prepared to be involved in its running on a full-time basis.

1.4 The following projects will not be funded;

• Bar/ Bottle Store/Liquor Restaurant/ any other alcohol related projects.
• Micro Lenders
• Night Clubs
• Livestock Speculation
• Any other business that is not allowed by the laws of Botswana

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1.5 The applicant should possess relevant knowledge and or experience to run the project. In the
event where the foregoing has not been satisfied then the applicant should sufficiently
demonstrate how the required technical expertise will be acquired.

1.6 Applicants who consider themselves technically competent but have not gone through any
formal training will be required to take a competency test before DEDC decision making.

1.7 The applicant must demonstrate willingness to be guided and consult with relevant experts in
organizing his/ her business idea.

1.8 All applications must be accompanied by the following mandatory documents:

 Completed application form or business plan

 A cash-flow forecast statement covering all revenue and expenditure for a period of 12 months.
 Two (2) sets of quotations valid for 90 days covering all items included in the proposed budget.
 A copy of valid trading license of operation (where applicable).
 Certified copies of valid Omang for all business partners.
 A letter of intent to lease or lease agreement in cases of operating businesses or proof of ownership
thereof.
 Curriculum Vitae of all members/partners. Certified copies of vocational and or academic certificates
or traceable references (Where applicable).
 Copy of partnership deed, or cooperative constitution, or memorandum and articles of association
(where applicable).
 Company resolutions for loan application. Succession plan (to be submitted after approval).
 Company and shareholder's certificate should show full details (i.e. Names and ages) of members.
 Those applying through Business Name shall be required to immediately register a company upon
approval of application and before any funds disbursement could be made.
 (Form 2 & 5 listing Company Directors) Certified copies of parents/guardians/spouse’s Omang.
 Proof of market (letters of intent to buy from potential customers, market research report).
 The expert consultation form should be part of the YDF form as a guide to youth to consult with the
relevant experts that are in line with their proposed projects (where applicable).
 For married applicants (in community of property) there should be written consent from the Spouse.
 ITC clearance report upon submission and this should be provided by the applicant (to be submitted
after approval).
 Applicants to provide documents confirming suitability of the proposed project site. (Tittle deed,
Lease, Land Board certificate, and intent to lease, water source, utilities, etc.)
 *(Note: Proposals that are not accompanied by required documents shall not be accepted.)

 Beneficiaries of other funding streams such as Out-of-School Youth Grant, Poverty Eradication
Programmes and LIMID may be considered for funding upon submission of proof to the effect that
they have sustained their project operations over a period of 12months and that prospects of
expansion are attractive provided that they will be operating the same or complementary business.

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1.9*(Note: A financial report/ statement or bank statement should be submitted as proof of the project’s
performance for the last three (3) months for all existing businesses.)

1.10 Note: *Applications that do not comply with these requirements will not be processed to the
appraisal stage and will immediately be disqualified.

1.11 The repayment periods for the loan component shall be as follows:

• Up to P25, 000.00 shall not exceed 36 months

• From P25, 001.00 to P50, 000.00 shall not exceed 60 months

• From P50, 001 to P225, 000.00 shall not exceed 72 months

1.13 The grace period for the loan component shall not exceed 36 months and shall be as
follows:

• Non-agricultural projects (services) – 6 months

• Poultry, Beekeeping, Fish Farming, birds, Rabbits, – 12 months

• Dry land farming, horticulture - 12 months

• Small Stock, piggery -18 months

• Snakes breeding, Crocodiles, Dog Breeding, Tswana chickens and guinea fowl – 12 months

• Horses, donkey breeding, Ostriches, Camels, Cattle – 36 months

1.14 Provision for working capital requirements will be guided by the nature of the business and is not
linked to the working capital budget.

1.15 Applications should be submitted at MYSC District Offices that cover their respective place of
operation and not at Head Office.

1.16 All YDF Appeals should be lodged in writing to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth,
Gender, Sport and Culture and channeled through the relevant MYSC District Offices within
fourteen (14) working days from the date of the letter. Submissions to be done at district offices.

1.17 All the costs incurred before commencement of the business shall not be borne by the Fund.

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Please Note: The Ministry shall, at its own discretion, fund unique business ideas from youth. Businesses to
be considered should have proven potential to contribute significantly to the economic growth and the
country’s national priorities. Such proposals shall be assessed by the Districts and recommendations
forwarded to the Ministry for consideration.

*There will be no extension to the closing date .