• Zambia awards 13,686 scholarships to boost human capital development
• Scholarships target engineering, digital technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship
• Youth unemployment remains high despite expanded training investment

The Zambian government announced on Wednesday, Jan. 28, the awarding of 13,686 scholarships to eligible students across the country. The initiative reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to investing in human capital, which it considers the “cornerstone of national development.”

According to the official statement, the scholarships cover strategic fields such as engineering, digital technologies, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to “support industrialization, digital transformation, food security, job creation, and economic diversification.”

Over the past five years, the number of scholarships has grown significantly, increasing from 4,522 in 2021 to more than 13,000 in 2026. This represents an increase of nearly 300 percent. The government intends to “eliminate financial barriers,” ensuring that every young talent has the opportunity to receive training without economic constraints.

This announcement comes amid mounting pressure in the youth job market. According to Afrobarometer in April 2025, 54 percent of young people aged 18 to 35 are unemployed despite having a higher level of education than older generations, and only 20 percent hold a full-time or part-time position. The primary obstacles identified include a lack of training (28 percent), a misalignment between skills and job requirements (18 percent), and a lack of professional experience (16 percent).

In an effort to address these challenges, the Zambian government has intensified its support for youth training. In 2025, the Ministry of Technology and Science allocated nearly half of its budget to skills development, according to official data.

Zambia recently hosted the WorldSkills Africa Capacity Building Programme. The event brought together candidates from several countries to strengthen trainer skills and better connect training to the needs of the labor market.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou