Grant Guidelines

The conference must have a guaranteed minimum of 100 physical attendees. Applications for events below this threshold will be rejected automatically.

The conference venue must be located within Zimbabwe. Priority evaluation is granted to events covering Finance, Youth, Climate, Corporate Governance, and Lifestyle/Entertainment.

Applicants must provide complete event profiles including historical data, target demographics, and verified venue capacities.

The maximum sponsorship value per event is USD 2,500, issued exclusively as a service credit. No cash or liquidity is disbursed at any stage.

LSC does not guarantee 100% funding. The evaluation team determines the worth of the event and may award a partial percentage of the maximum allowed credit. The organiser is responsible for paying any remaining balance to match the full service value.

Regardless of the sponsorship percentage awarded, the technical service delivery remains identical and consistent for all events. The base credit applies only to standard high-definition streaming and basic audio-visual integration. Add-ons such as AI Rapporteurs, photo booths, social walls, and charging stations require separate out-of-pocket financial agreements.

For events spanning multiple consecutive days, the maximum available sponsorship credit scales down progressively to manage operational costs.

Day 1 is eligible for a maximum credit of up to USD 2,500. Day 2 is eligible for a maximum credit of up to USD 1,250. Day 3 and beyond carry no sponsorship eligibility — the organiser must cover the full cost of services for these days.

The evaluation team determines the exact percentage awarded for each eligible day based on thematic value and projected daily attendance.

Standard applications must be submitted at least 15 days prior to the event. The evaluation process requires 7 days. Approved events under standard booking are eligible for the maximum credit allocation.

Priority Booking (5 to 7 days' notice): the final approved credit amount is reduced by 15%. This penalty is added to the organiser's out-of-pocket invoice as an extra charge.

Flash Booking (3 days' notice): the final approved credit amount is reduced by 40%. This penalty is likewise added to the organiser's invoice as an extra charge.

The venue must provide a dedicated internet uplink capable of sustaining high-definition streaming. Shared or public Wi-Fi is not acceptable.

If the venue lacks a dedicated link, LSC will deploy auxiliary network infrastructure. The cost of this equipment and data will be billed directly to the organiser as an extra surcharge outside of the grant credit.

For any event that is not 100% sponsored, the organiser must pay a 50% deposit of their total owed balance before setup and broadcasting commence.

The remaining 50% balance — including any technical surcharges or late-booking penalties — must be paid in full within 5 days after the completion of the event.

LSC retains non-exclusive rights to cut, edit, and distribute highlights and snippets of the broadcast for marketing and archival purposes.

Broadcasts are distributed through Techzim, Pindula, and Daily Brand. Organisers must secure signed media waivers from all speakers prior to the event.

LSC reserves the right to run pre-roll and overlay advertisements during the live feed. Where digital ticket paywalls are utilised, transactions will be managed by the platform and will incur standard processing fees.