Zambia: Youth at the Heart of Innovation and Transformation

This policy brief, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs as part of the 'Youth and Social Justice Futures' project, advocates for the integration of Zambian youth into the nation's socio-economic development. Based on workshops using Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizon Framework, the document identifies critical gaps in youth employment, political representation, education, and technological access. It proposes four strategic priorities: increasing youth representation in civic and public institutions, enhancing climate-resilient agriculture through agri-tech, reforming education to prioritize practical skills and entrepreneurship, and ensuring equitable internet connectivity.

• Zambian youth face significant barriers to participation and development, specifically citing high unemployment rates, a lack of political representation in the National Assembly and public institutions, and an education system that prioritizes theory over practical application.
• To improve social justice and civic engagement, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts should work with the National Assembly to implement quota legislation that mandates a fixed proportion of youth representation in decision-making bodies and private institutions.
• The document recommends that the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment fast-track the Climate Change Bill of 2022 into law and collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to implement agri-tech innovations, such as mobile applications for market connectivity and biotechnology for climate-resilient crops.
• Addressing youth unemployment requires the Ministry of Education to update curricula to emphasize practical skills and strengthen the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority to align with current job market demands.
• The Ministry of Technology and Science is urged to develop a National Internet Connectivity Plan to bridge the digital divide, which includes establishing public Wi-Fi zones in schools and community centers and partnering with retailers to provide subsidized devices.
• The briefing notes that while Zambia has established several governing documents—including the National Youth Policy of 2015 and the National Information and Communication Technology Policy of 2007—there remains a significant gap in how these policies are implemented and assessed.

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} }