Stakeholders from government institutions, labour organizations, development partners, and private sector representatives have officially validated and launched the Employment Impact Assessment (EmpIA) for the Luangwa–Mwami Road, a significant section of the Nacala Corridor. The launch took place on 4 March 2026 in Lusaka and marks an important step toward understanding the employment outcomes linked to major infrastructure investments in Zambia.
The assessment was conducted under the International Labour Organization’s STRENGTHEN2 project, which is co-funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the African Development Bank. The Luangwa–Mwami road section forms a crucial part of the Nacala Road Corridor that connects Zambia with Mozambique through Malawi, enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration.
The five-year STRENGTHEN2 initiative aims to help African governments make better public investment and policy decisions by using Employment Impact Assessments to estimate job creation and labour market outcomes. The project operates across nine sub-Saharan African countries and focuses on strengthening national capacity to measure how large infrastructure investments influence employment opportunities and labour market dynamics.
During the launch, Zambia’s Minister of Labour and Social Security emphasized the importance of evidence-based planning in infrastructure development and employment strategies. She noted that employment generation must be measurable and grounded in reliable data, highlighting that assessments like the one conducted for the Luangwa–Mwami Road demonstrate the potential of infrastructure projects to generate meaningful job opportunities.
ILO officials explained that the study provides a detailed analysis of how the road rehabilitation has influenced employment patterns, wages, working hours, and access to social infrastructure along the corridor. The latest assessment combines Labour Force Survey data with Geographic Information Systems to offer deeper insights into how transport investments affect job creation and access to essential services.
Representatives from workers’ and employers’ organizations also welcomed the report. Labour leaders emphasized that infrastructure projects should generate decent and stable jobs for workers, while employer representatives noted that the findings provide valuable information for businesses to plan investments and address future skills needs along the Nacala Corridor.
