Nqobizwe Thebe
The Government of Zimbabwe has approved the National Youth Empowerment Strategy (NYES) for 2026-2030, a comprehensive plan designed to foster youth participation in the mainstream formal economy.
The strategy, endorsed during the Zimbabwe ‘s 24th Cabinet meeting, aims to create an enabling environment for young people through targeted programs in job creation, entrepreneurship, and skills development.
The NYES is aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 and draws from legal frameworks such as the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Youth Council Act, and the National Youth Policy (2021). According to the 24th post cabinet press briefing, the strategy is the result of extensive consultations with the private sector, development partners, and youths, addressing challenges faced by young people across the country.
“The National Youth Empowerment Strategy aims to create an enabling environment in order to promote youth participation in the mainstream formal economy,” the Cabinet statement noted.It emphasized that Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Local Authorities, the private sector, and development partners will be required to initiate “deliberate programmes and projects that economically empower youths through job creation and entrepreneurship.”
The strategy is built on five core pillars: economic empowerment, technology and digital transformation, education and skills development, governance, and health and well-being. Additionally, three cross-cutting pillars, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Gender Equality and Inclusivity, and Governance, Coordination, and Partnership support the framework. Each pillar includes strategic objectives and suggested interventions to achieve the outlined goals.
The government underscored its commitment to empowering youths, stating, “The Government is committed to empowering this youth demographic through ensuring access to education and training, political participation, economic opportunities, recreational facilities, and protection from harmful practices.”The strategy caters to both in-school and out-of-school youth, aligning with existing programs under the Ministry of Youth.
To ensure effective implementation, the NYES is supported by a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, an Implementation Matrix, and a Communication Plan. The Monitoring and Evaluation plan will assess the performance of programs, policies, and projects, with youth actively involved in every stage. The Communication Plan will incorporate local languages and culturally relevant content to engage stakeholders, raise awareness, and ensure transparency, particularly for marginalized groups.
Additionally, a Resource Needs and Mobilisation Plan will identify and secure financial, human, and material resources to support youth initiatives, with a focus on inclusivity for marginalized youth.
The approaval of the National Youth Empowerment Strategy, a day after the International Youth Day, reinforces Zimbabwe ‘s alignment with global efforts to prioritize youth empowerment and inclusion. It positions the country to foster a generation equipped to contribute to its country’s economic and social progress.
