• Plan focuses on linking education, innovation, and job creation

• Government to expand digital, technical, and entrepreneurial training

• Youth, women, and rural populations to benefit from inclusive programs

At the Industrial Skills Week for Africa (ISWA 2025) in Lusaka, Waana Kankinza, Secretary of the National Youth Development Council (NYDC), unveiled Zambia’s new national strategy to strengthen youth employability and position young people as drivers of the country’s economic transformation. According to local media reports on Monday, October 6, the five-pillar roadmap seeks to reinforce the connection between education, innovation, and employment. It aligns with Vision 2030, the Eighth National Development Plan, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The government plans to integrate digital, technical, and entrepreneurial skills into school curricula and lifelong learning programs while building stronger bridges between the education system and industry. Public-private partnerships will play a central role through mentorship, incubation, and workplace training initiatives.

The strategy also aims to ensure equal opportunities for young women, rural communities, and people with disabilities. It includes regular monitoring based on labor market data to enable policy adjustments in real time.

This approach responds to growing demographic pressures. According to the World Bank, Zambia’s population grew by 2.79% in 2023. Across Africa, more than 12 million people enter the labor market each year, yet only 25% find formal employment, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB).

By investing in its youth, Zambia hopes to turn this challenge into a source of growth. The AfDB reports that Zambia’s unemployment rate stood at 13% in 2023, reaching 24.7% among young people. The government noted in 2024 that 79% of Zambians are under the age of 35.