Zambia has unveiled a comprehensive suite of skills development tools designed to strengthen industry‑aligned training and improve employability across key economic sectors.
The launch event, held in Livingstone and attended by apprentices and host enterprises from the mining, energy, tourism and agriculture sectors, marked the introduction of the National Critical Skills List, Sector Skills Strategies, three Sector Skills Bodies and the pilot National Apprenticeship Programme.
Through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security's Skills Advisory Committee Secretariat-and with support from the ILO's European Union‑funded Skills Development for Increased Employability Programme (SDEP)-the initiative will place 1,000 apprentices in one‑year work‑based training programmes across four priority sectors.
The apprenticeship model is anchored under the Ministry of Technology and Science to ensure strong linkages between technical training and real workplace experience.
Guest of Honour, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Mrs. Brenda Tambatamba, said the new tools are timely interventions in addressing the country's widening skills gap.
"Skills are the currency of economic transformation, and today we are here to strengthen that currency," Mrs. Tambatamba said.
She noted that youth unemployment remains above 17 percent, while 60 percent of employers struggle to find workers with the right skills.
"We are driving a shift toward a demand‑driven, technology‑enabled system anchored in innovation and entrepreneurship," Mrs. Tambatamba added.
Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, reinforced the urgency of building a future‑ready workforce.
"We are preparing for an economy that demands not just qualifications, but capability," he said.
Dr. Habeenzu noted that the National Apprenticeship Programme represents a significant move toward practical, work‑based learning, pointing out that countries with strong apprenticeship systems reduce youth unemployment by up to 40 percent.
International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office Director for Zambia and Malawi, Mr. Wellington Chibebe, described the launch as a major milestone under the project.
"Our shared goal has been to ensure training systems respond to industry needs and enhance productivity," he said.
Mr. Chibebe highlighted that the new tools will improve coordination between government, employers, workers and training institutions-areas previously hindered by fragmented approaches.
The pilot apprenticeship programme, designed in line with ILO Recommendation 208 on quality apprenticeships, aims to equip young Zambians with practical, work‑ready skills.
He thanked the Zambian government, the European Union, social partners and Technical Working Groups for their collaboration, urging stakeholders not only to recognize the potential of the framework but to "develop a culture of celebrating results."
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Head of Cooperation Mr. Claudio Bacigalupi underscored the value of partnerships in skills development.
"Skills development is an increasing priority for the EU and part of the Global Gateway investment strategy, in recognition of its role as an enabling factor for private‑sector engagement," he said.
He commended the ILO for ensuring broad private‑sector participation.
Representing employers, Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) President, Mrs. Myra Ngoma‑Sakala, welcomed the initiative as a decisive response to long‑standing labour market challenges.
"This launch represents a clear national commitment to strengthening Zambia's human capital and building a workforce aligned to the needs of a modern economy," she said.
Mrs. Ngoma-Sakala emphasized that employers have long faced a mismatch between available skills and industry requirements.
"The National Critical Skills List gives us clarity, direction and renewed confidence, guiding workforce planning, curriculum development and career choices for young people," she noted.
Mrs. Ngoma‑Sakala also highlighted the importance of the apprenticeship model.
"Skills are best developed through a combination of theoretical learning and real workplace experience. Apprenticeships offer a win‑win model that benefits both businesses and young people," she said.
Providing the workers' perspective, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Vice‑President, Mr. Geoffrey Mbewe, underscored the transformative power of apprenticeships.
"Apprenticeship is the foundation of a productive economy," he said. "A young person trained in electrical installation can help solve energy challenges; an apprentice bricklayer contributes to infrastructure development; an apprentice in mining improves machinery uptime and output."
The newly launched tools are expected to enhance enterprise productivity, expand decent work opportunities and support Zambia's inclusive economic transformation.
