CDF – Kitwe City Council

C D F

KITWE CITY COUNCIL

CDF Information Hub

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND

0Year Established

K0MPer Constituency (2026)

0CDF Components

Art. 0Constitutional Anchor

About the Fund

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is a government initiative established in 1995 to facilitate the delivery of public goods and services at the constituency level. It was legally anchored in Article 162 of the Zambian Constitution (Amendment Act No. 2 of 2016) and operationalized by the CDF Act No. 11 of 2018.

The Fund aims to promote decentralization, community participation, poverty reduction, and job creation by bringing resources closer to the people. In 2021, the allocation was increased from K1.6 million to K40.1 million per constituency in 2026, significantly expanding its scope and impact.

At a Glance

📜 Legal anchor: Article 162, Constitution (Amendment Act No. 2 of 2016)

⚖️ Operationalized by: CDF Act No. 11 of 2018

📈 Allocation: K1.6M → K40.1M per constituency (2021 reform → 2026)

🎯 Focus: Decentralization • Participation • Poverty reduction • Jobs

Key Objectives

🏘️

Promote local development through community-driven projects.

💼

Empower youth and women economically.

🎓

Enhance access to education and skills training for vulnerable groups.

🔍

Ensure transparency, accountability, and community participation in fund management.

The Three Components

Tap Read more on each card for full details.

🏗️

Community Projects

Community-identified projects delivering public goods across Wards.

Community Projects are projects which are identified by the communities in their Wards for the benefit of the wider community.

Identified by communitiesWard levelWider community benefit

💼

Youth, Women & Community Empowerment

Grants and loans for youth, women and vulnerable groups.

The Empowerment Fund prioritises the youths, women, people living with disability and other vulnerable persons in the community. Empowerment grants equip beneficiaries with seed money in form of grants given to Organised Groups, Clubs and Cooperatives. Additionally, empowerment loans shall be given to cooperatives and individuals with established small and medium scale businesses wishing to grow their businesses within the Constituency.

Grants: Groups & ClubsLoans: SMEs & Co-opsPriority: Youth, Women, PWDs

🎓

Secondary Boarding School & Skills Development Bursaries

School and skills bursaries for vulnerable learners.

The Secondary Boarding Schools and Skills Development Bursaries shall be used to provide for vulnerable learners to access Secondary Boarding Schools and Skills Training Institutions offering technical education, vocational and entrepreneurship programmes. The aim of the bursary is to enhance human development and drive the entrepreneurship agenda at the local level.

Secondary Boarding SchoolsTEVET Skills (16–35)Vulnerable learners

How an Application Flows

📝

Apply via WDC

Submit through your Ward Development Committee

🧾

WDC Review

WDC verifies and forwards eligible applications

📋

CDFC Consolidation

CDFC submits a consolidated list

✅

Minister Approval

The Minister approves the final list

💸

Disbursement

Disbursement Process

Frequently Asked Questions

On CDF Application Processes — 21 answers. Tap a question to expand it.

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General Application Process

1. How do I apply for CDF funding?

Applications are submitted through Ward Development Committees (WDCs). Each component (projects, empowerment, bursaries) has a separate form.

2. Where can I get application forms?

Free at Local Authorities, Parliamentary Constituency Offices, or public institutions. Also downloadable from Local Authority websites (if available).

3. When are applications open?

Community Projects & Empowerment: February each year (for next year's funding). Bursaries: aligned with school/college admission cycles (check local announcements).

4. Can I submit applications directly to the CDF Committee?

No. All applications must go through the Ward Development Committee (WDC) first.

5. What happens after submission?

The WDC reviews and forwards eligible applications to the Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC). The CDFC submits a consolidated list to the Minister for approval.

Community Projects Application

6. What documents are needed for community projects?

Completed Project Application Form (Appendix B); signed minutes of community meetings (if no Ward Development Plan exists); proof of land ownership (if applicable).

7. Who can propose a community project?

Any organized community group, zone representatives, or WDC members.

8. How are projects prioritized?

Based on urgency and community impact, and alignment with Ward Development Plans (WDPs) or Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).

9. What if my project is rejected?

The WDC provides feedback for corrections. Resubmission is allowed in the next cycle.

Empowerment (Loans & Grants)

10. Who can apply for empowerment grants?

Registered cooperatives, clubs, or groups (minimum 10 members) that must operate within the constituency for ≥6 months.

11. What's needed for empowerment applications?

Grant Form (Appendix D) or loan application from a financial institution; proof of registration (PACRA, TEVETA, etc.); bank account/mobile money details; recommendation letter from the WDC Chairperson.

12. How are loans disbursed?

Approved applicants sign a Loan Agreement (Appendix F). Funds are sent via bank/mobile money within 14 working days.

13. What's the repayment period for loans?

12–48 months, depending on the amount (see Table 2 in the guidelines).

Bursary Application

14. Who qualifies for bursaries?

Secondary School: vulnerable learners (orphans, disabled, low-income). Skills Development: Zambians aged 16–35 with admission to TEVET institutions.

15. What documents are required?

Bursary Form (Appendix G for schools, Appendix I for skills training); acceptance letter from a public school/TEVET institution; proof of vulnerability (death certificates, disability cards, CWAC recommendation).

16. How are bursary recipients selected?

The WDC verifies eligibility and submits to the CDFC. The final list is approved by the Minister.

17. When are bursary payments made?

Within 5 working days after approval.

Post-Application Steps

18. How long does approval take?

Projects/Empowerment: 4–8 weeks (including technical appraisal). Bursaries: aligned with academic calendars.

19. How will I know if my application is successful?

The WDC notifies applicants in writing. Public announcements may also be made via notice boards, radio, or community meetings.

20. What if my application is incomplete?

It will be rejected or deferred until corrections are made.

21. Can I appeal a rejected application?

Yes — through the WDC with additional supporting documents.

Ready to Apply or Learn More?

📄 Download CDF Guidelines 📊 View CDF Tracker ✉ Contact CDF Desk