Zambia has advanced its preparations to join the United Nations Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, taking steps toward becoming a pathfinder country. The initiative will support the Zambian government in developing a national roadmap to inform the forthcoming Ninth National Development Plan (9NDP).
The Global Accelerator will prioritize youth transitions from school to work, using a whole-of-government approach and fostering collaboration with the private sector. Key growth sectors targeted include mining, agro-food processing, and green energy, linking skills development, value-addition policies, and market access with social policies that promote human development, health, and social protection. Once designated a pathfinder country, Zambia will be eligible for seed funding and technical support to implement its roadmap.
To advance preparations, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened an inter-ministerial technical meeting in Kafue from 18 to 19 February 2026. The meeting focused on identifying national priorities and aligning them with opportunities under the Global Accelerator, with participation from key ministries including Labour and Social Security, Community Development and Social Services, Green Economy and Environment, Technology and Science, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, and Youth, Sport and Arts.
Officials emphasized the importance of anchoring the Global Accelerator within Zambia’s broader development agenda. Mr. Davison Mapiza, Director for Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, highlighted that the initiative aligns with national priorities on job creation, human capital development, and social protection, reinforcing efforts toward a resilient, equitable, and productive economy.
ILO Social Protection Manager Mr. Yu Jie Koh noted that the initiative will focus on promoting decent and productive jobs for youth, especially in green, digital, and labour-intensive sectors. Strengthening labour-market-responsive skills systems will be key to improving school-to-work transitions. The Global Accelerator will also support integrated and shock-responsive social protection systems, linking vulnerable households to skills, employment, and livelihood opportunities, while ensuring coherence between the Eighth and Ninth National Development Plans to maximize the initiative’s impact.
