Together for Change

... Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts and Camfed Zambia agree to Empower Rural Girls and Young Women

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia – The Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Camfed Zambia to advance youth empowerment, with a primary focus on rural young women. The partnership aims to equip young women with essential skills, resources, and opportunities to contribute to national development.

Officiating at the signing ceremony, Kangwa Chileshe, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts, emphasized that youth empowerment is not only a social responsibility but a crucial driver of socio-economic development.

He stressed the need to provide young people, particularly rural young women, with the necessary tools to succeed.

“By providing young people with the necessary skills, knowledge, and opportunities, we are ensuring that no one is left behind in Zambia’s development journey,” Chileshe stated.

The Zambian Government has made significant efforts to address youth challenges through initiatives such as the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) program and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which support vulnerable youth in accessing secondary and tertiary education.

However, Chileshe acknowledged the persistent challenges that continue to hinder young people—especially rural young women—from accessing education and skills development.

These challenges include poor infrastructure, limited resources, poverty, unplanned pregnancies, forced marriages, and gender discrimination.

The newly signed MoU aims to tackle these issues by focusing on developing employability, business, and social skills for young women. It will also provide mentorship and training to help young entrepreneurs establish sustainable businesses and contribute to economic growth.

“This partnership is a key part of our broader vision to ensure every young person in Zambia has access to opportunities that help them reach their full potential,” Chileshe reaffirmed.

He expressed appreciation to Camfed Zambia and all stakeholders involved, highlighting the MoU as a critical step toward building a more inclusive and prosperous Zambia.

Camfed Zambia Executive Director Namenda Malupande reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to breaking down barriers that hinder young women from realizing their full potential.

“We look forward to strengthening this partnership, particularly in empowering young women,” Malupande stated.

“Our primary goal is to identify and address the challenges faced by those we work with. Together with the Ministry, we will break down these barriers and leverage our collective strengths to create meaningful change.”

As part of this collaboration, Camfed Zambia has pledged to support the Ministry of Youth through evidence-based policymaking.

Malupande emphasized that Camfed’s dedicated research team will play a crucial role in shaping policies that benefit young women.

“We have a strong background in research-driven initiatives, and we are eager to contribute through our dedicated research team,” she added.

Camfed Vice Board Chairperson Doreen Mukanzo underscored the broader significance of the MoU in fostering Zambia’s social and economic development.

“While empowering young men is also important, today’s focus is on ensuring that rural young women receive the necessary support to succeed,” she said.

She further stressed that the partnership is about creating sustainable livelihoods and unlocking the potential of young people.

“Through collaboration, we can foster leadership, drive economic empowerment, and establish strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure long-term impact,” she noted.

Mukanzo commended the Ministry for prioritizing youth empowerment, describing the MoU as a call to action and a commitment to ensuring young people, particularly young women, are seen, valued, and supported.

He reaffirmed their commitment to translating these promises into action.

The strengthened partnership is expected to enhance leadership opportunities, economic empowerment, and robust monitoring systems within youth programs.

With the MoU now in place, Camfed Zambia and the Ministry of Youth will begin rolling out initiatives to address key challenges affecting young women across the country.

Malupande expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to making the partnership a reality.

“A lot has happened behind the scenes, and it’s incredible how quickly we’ve made progress to get to this stage,” she said.

“We truly appreciate everyone’s efforts, and we are especially grateful to both parties for their dedication in making this happen.”

The signing of this MoU marks a significant milestone in Zambia’s efforts to enhance youth empowerment, particularly in education and economic opportunities for young women.