The 2015 National Youth Policy, developed by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, provides a strategic framework to empower young people and enhance their role in national development. Recognizing that youth (15–35 years) make up over one-third of Zambia’s population, the policy seeks to harness this demographic dividend by creating opportunities for skills development, entrepreneurship, health, and civic participation.
Vision & Goal
- Vision: “A nation of skilled, enlightened, economically empowered and patriotic youth.”
- Goal: To create an enabling environment that promotes youth rights, responsibilities, and active participation in Zambia’s development.
Guiding Principles
The policy is built on accessibility, equality, inclusiveness, respect for human rights, cultural values, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. It emphasizes that youth development must be participatory, equitable, and integrated across all sectors.
Key Priority Areas
- Employment & Entrepreneurship – Expanding job opportunities, promoting self-employment, encouraging ICT use, establishing hubs/incubators, and linking youth to local and international markets.
- Education & Skills Development – Increasing access to formal and non-formal education, modernizing youth training centres, incorporating ICT in learning, and aligning curricula with labour market needs.
- Health & Wellbeing – Promoting sexual and reproductive health, comprehensive sexuality education, HIV/AIDS prevention, and healthy lifestyles, while tackling substance abuse and supporting rehabilitation.
- Creative Industries & Sports – Supporting arts, culture, and recreation as viable livelihoods, strengthening intellectual property protections, and expanding access to cultural and sports infrastructure.
- Youth Mainstreaming – Ensuring youth issues are integrated into all government and private sector programs, supported by stronger coordination mechanisms.
- Youth Work Professionalization – Regulating and professionalizing youth work, enforcing a code of ethics, and strengthening training institutions.
- Cross-Cutting Issues – Addressing environment and climate change, gender equity, disability inclusion, HIV/AIDS, governance, youth volunteerism, and diaspora engagement.
Target Groups
The policy identifies diverse youth segments, including rural youth, female and male youth, those with disabilities, students, out-of-school youth, unemployed youth, NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training), youth affected by HIV/AIDS, youth at risk, and the diaspora. Each group is targeted with tailored interventions.
Implementation Framework
Implementation will be multi-sectoral, involving:
- Government Ministries – for coordination, policy alignment, and service delivery.
- Private Sector – offering jobs, training, and financing.
- Civil Society & NGOs – supporting advocacy, skills development, and monitoring.
- Provincial & District Structures – ensuring decentralized execution in line with the Decentralization Policy.
Monitoring & Evaluation
The policy calls for strong M&E systems, with clear indicators to ensure accountability, track progress, and adapt interventions. Partnerships with stakeholders will be critical in mobilizing resources and ensuring sustainability.
👉 In short, the 2015 National Youth Policy is Zambia’s blueprint for unlocking the potential of its youth by investing in education, employment, health, creativity, and inclusive governance, while ensuring that no young person is left behind
