EU/Zambia Launch Youth Board
By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia24, (19 February 2026) – The European Union, in partnership with the Zambian government, has launched the Youth Sounding Board, an initiative designed to strengthen youth participation in governance, entrepreneurship, arts, and sports across all provinces.
The platform will give young Zambians a structured channel to influence policies and programmes affecting their lives, ensuring their voices are heard in national development decisions.
Speaking at the launch, EU Ambassador to Zambia and COMESA, Karolina Stasiak, said the initiative was created to ensure that EU programmes are “more participatory, more relevant, and more impactful for young people.”
She highlighted that Zambia’s population is overwhelmingly young, with nearly 70 percent under 30 and a median age of just 18, making youth a key driver of the country’s potential.
Ambassador Stasiak said the first cohort of 25 members has been selected to advise the EU Delegation, contribute ideas, and challenge policies.
She added that the Youth Sounding Board reflects Zambia’s diversity, with representatives from all provinces to ensure a wide range of perspectives.
Through the platform, young people are expected to provide feedback, inspire the EU, and strengthen their leadership skills.
The Ambassador also acknowledged the support of ActionAid Zambia and Restless Development, whose expertise helped establish the Board.
She encouraged members to speak openly and boldly, stressing that their contributions would directly influence EU policies in Zambia.
Describing the Board as the start of a long-term journey toward stronger youth participation, Ambassador Stasiak concluded, “This is not the end of a process. It is the beginning of a journey—a journey towards deeper participation, stronger partnership, and a future shaped together.”
“The Youth Sounding Board affirms that youth participation must be institutionalised, structured, and sustained,” he said.
Nkandu highlighted that young people form the majority of Zambia’s population and are central to the country’s social and economic transformation.
The platform will allow youth to advise government, influence programme implementation, and monitor outcomes in line with national development priorities.
On youth empowerment, he said government is focusing on skills development, entrepreneurship, access to finance, mentorship, and market linkages.
“Entrepreneurship remains a key pillar of youth empowerment, and we are working to ensure youth enterprises grow sustainably,” Nkandu added.
Speaking on sports and the arts, he announced the Creative Industries Business Summit at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre from 29 June to 2 July, which will connect creatives with investors, financial institutions, and policymakers.
He also highlighted the Provincial Drama Series Production Initiative, creating jobs for writers, actors, producers, and technicians while supporting digital content distribution.
Government is piloting creative hubs in three youth resource centres to provide shared production facilities, incubation support, and enterprise development services.
These hubs are intended to transform youth centres into innovation ecosystems.
Nkandu stressed that reliable data systems for the creative economy are being strengthened to guide planning and investment decisions.
He encouraged youth to focus on sectors critical to Zambia’s growth, including digital skills, agriculture, mining, renewable energy, and infrastructure development.
“The Youth Sounding Board must be a credible, solution-oriented platform that strengthens accountability, enhances policy coherence, and bridges dialogue between government, partners, and youth,” Nkandu said.
He urged youth to participate in the 2026 National Youth Week, scheduled for 2–12 March under the theme “Arise and Soar.”
“The future of our nation rests in the hands of our young people. The time to arise is now. The time to soar is now,” he said.
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