The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), in partnership with AGRA and NBS Bank Plc, has launched the Spark Start-Up Fund—a new loan facility designed to help graduates transform their research-based ideas into viable agribusiness ventures.

Unveiled Tuesday evening at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, the initiative is being rolled out under LUANAR’s Africa Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agricultural Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (TACE). The fund is part of a broader effort to tackle unemployment among Malawi’s youth and women through innovation and enterprise.

The Spark Start-Up Fund is being supported by AGRA through the Mastercard Foundation-funded Youth Entrepreneurs and Fisherfolk Empowerment for Food Security in Africa (YEFFA) program, which has contributed 90 percent of the funding, with the remaining 10 percent coming from NBS Bank Plc.

Speaking during the launch, Dr. Felix Maulidi, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator at TACE, said the initiative is meant to ensure that LUANAR graduates leave the university equipped to create their own employment.

He explained that many young graduates struggle to access capital because financial institutions often view them as a high-risk group. “We want as many of our graduates as possible to start their own businesses when they leave the university,” he said. “This fund gives them that opportunity and support.”

Dr. Maulidi added that the pilot phase will support 50 graduates from LUANAR’s incubation hub, with plans to reach up to 300 in future stages. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between universities and the private sector, saying LUANAR is working closely with industry to find practical solutions to real-world challenges, including youth unemployment.

Representing NBS Bank Plc, Chief Wholesale Banking Officer Alfred Nhlema described the launch as a landmark moment. He said the partnership emerged after eight months of discussions with LUANAR, AGRA, and the National Youth Council of Malawi, focused on supporting young people and women through job creation.
“Many graduates leave college with innovative ideas but lack the financial support and training to turn those ideas into businesses,” Nhlema said.

He explained that the Spark Start-Up Fund is different from typical loan programs because it includes a strong incubation component. Beneficiaries will receive training in business management, credit handling, and enterprise development before receiving funds. “We are not just financing ideas—we are building future business leaders,” he said.

The fund does not have a fixed loan limit. Instead, funding will be tailored to the needs and potential of each business idea. LUANAR is currently in the process of identifying the first cohort of graduates to benefit from the program.