How we look after your information.

Who we are

Youth Enterprise GrowthLink is run by Growth Link. We are responsible for (the “data controller” of) the personal data you share on Youth Enterprise GrowthLink. We handle it in line with the Data Protection Act No. 3 of 2021 of Zambia.

What we collect

• Account details: your name and mobile phone number, which you use to sign in. Accounts created with an email address also hold that email and a password, stored in a scrambled (hashed) form that our team cannot read.
• Sign-in codes: when we text you a code, we keep a record of when it was sent and to which number, so we can stop misuse. The code itself is stored only in scrambled form.
• Business details: your business name and town or district, if you choose to add them.
• Money records: the sales and expenses you log: description, amount, type and date.
• Check-up answers: your answers to the business check-up and when you took it.
• Technical information: your IP address and basic device details, used to keep you signed in, protect accounts from repeated failed sign-ins, and fix problems.

We do not ask for your national registration card (NRC) number, bank or mobile money details, or passwords for other services.

Why we use it

• To provide your account and show you your own records, totals and suggestions.
• To keep Youth Enterprise GrowthLink secure and working properly.
• To reply when you contact us.
• To understand, in summary form that does not identify you, how Youth Enterprise GrowthLink is used so we can improve it and report to partners and funders.

We rely on your consent when you create an account, and on what is needed to provide the service you asked for. You can withdraw your consent at any time by asking us to delete your account.

Who can see it

Your business records and check-up answers are private to your account. Other users cannot see them. A small number of our team may access account data only when needed to keep Youth Enterprise GrowthLink running, keep it secure, or help with a request you made.

We never sell your personal data or share it for advertising. We may share it with service providers that host and run Youth Enterprise GrowthLink for us, under agreements that require them to protect it, or where the law requires us to.

Sign-in codes are sent by SMS through Africa’s Talking, which receives your phone number and the message text only to deliver it.

Youth Enterprise GrowthLink loads its fonts from Google Fonts, which means Google receives your IP address when pages load.

Cookies

We use only the cookies Youth Enterprise GrowthLink needs to work: one that keeps you signed in on your device for up to 30 days after your last visit, one that protects forms from misuse, and, for email sign-in, a “Remember me” cookie if you tick that box. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.

How long we keep it

We keep your information for as long as your account is open. If you ask us to delete your account, we delete your personal data and records, except anything we are required by law to keep.

Records of the sign-in codes we text you, which include the phone number and network address they were requested from, are deleted automatically after 30 days.

Keeping it safe

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including password hashing, access controls and limits on sign-in attempts. No online service is completely secure, so please choose a strong password and do not share it.

Your rights

Under Zambian data protection law you can ask us to:

• confirm whether we hold your personal data and give you a copy of it;
• correct information that is wrong or incomplete;
• delete your personal data and close your account;
• stop or limit how we use your data, or withdraw your consent.

To make a request, contact youthenterprise.growthlink@gmail.com from the email address on your account. We may ask you to confirm your identity first. If you are not happy with our response, you can complain to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Zambia.

Young people

Youth Enterprise GrowthLink is made for young entrepreneurs. If you are under 18, please use Youth Enterprise GrowthLink with the permission of a parent or guardian, who may also make requests about your data on your behalf.

Changes to this policy

If we make important changes, we will update the date at the top of this page and let you know in Youth Enterprise GrowthLink. Questions? Contact youthenterprise.growthlink@gmail.com.