Zambia: Youth at the Heart of Innovation and Transformation

The document outlines a strategic framework to harness the potential of Zambia's youth population, which comprises over 70% of the population under age 30. Based on participatory research using Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizon Framework, it identifies critical gaps in political representation, education, and technology. The brief proposes four strategic priorities: mandating youth quotas in decision-making bodies, fast-tracking the Climate Change Bill of 2022 to support agri-tech innovation, reforming curricula to emphasize practical skills for employment, and implementing a National Internet Connectivity Plan to bridge the digital divide.

• Zambian youth are significantly under-represented in political leadership and decision-making platforms, leading to calls for legislation that mandates a fixed proportion of youth representation in the National Assembly and public institutions.
• To enhance climate resilience in agriculture, the document urges the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to fast-track the Climate Change Bill of 2022 into law and promote agri-tech innovations, such as biotechnology for climate-resilient crops and mobile apps for market connectivity.
• The current educational curriculum in Zambia is criticized for being too theoretical and failing to meet job market needs; the brief recommends updating curricula to include technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and practical skills.
• There is a significant digital divide in Zambia, necessitating a multi-sectoral National Internet Connectivity Plan to provide equitable access to the internet and subsidized devices for disadvantaged individuals.
• Youth unemployment remains a primary concern, with recommendations for the Department of Labour to implement policies that incentivize companies to hire a specific proportion of graduates.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2024). Zambia: Youth at the Heart of Innovation and Transformation. https://saiia.org.za/research/zambia-youth-at-the-heart-of-innovation-and-transformation/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Zambia: Youth at the Heart of Innovation and Transformation. 2024. https://saiia.org.za/research/zambia-youth-at-the-heart-of-innovation-and-transformation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Zambia: Youth at the Heart of Innovation and Transformation |date=18 January 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/zambia-youth-at-the-heart-of-innovation-and-transformation/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2024zambia, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Zambia: Youth at the Heart of Innovation and Transformation}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/zambia-youth-at-the-heart-of-innovation-and-transformation/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }