Zambia has advanced its preparations to join the United Nations Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, taking key steps toward becoming a pathfinder country.
As part of this process, the Global Accelerator will support the Government of Zambia in developing a national roadmap that will feed into the formulation of the country's forthcoming Ninth National Development Plan (9NDP).
Given Zambia's current employment and social protection landscape, the Global Accelerator will prioritize supporting youth transitions from school to work, adopting a whole‑of‑government approach and fostering collaboration with the private sector.
Key growth sectors to be targeted include mining, agro‑food processing, and green energy.
The initiative aims to strengthen synergies between existing economic and social programmes, linking value‑addition policies, skills development, and market access with social policies that promote human development, health, and social protection.
Once designated a pathfinder country, Zambia will become eligible for seed funding and technical support to develop and implement its Global Accelerator roadmap.
To advance preparations, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened an inter‑ministerial technical meeting from 18 to 19 February 2026 in Kafue.
The meeting focused on identifying national priorities and aligning them with opportunities offered under the Global Accelerator.
Key ministries represented included: Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Ministry of Technology and Science, Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, as well as Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts.
The stakeholders emphasized the importance of anchoring the Global Accelerator within Zambia's wider development agenda.
Delivering opening remarks, Mr. Davison Mapiza, Director for Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, highlighted the role of the Global Accelerator in advancing Zambia's long-term development ambitions.
Mr. Mapiza noted that the initiative aligns closely with national priorities across job creation, human capital development, and social protection.
"As Government progresses toward the development of the Ninth National Development Plan, the Global Accelerator presents a vital opportunity to reinforce national efforts toward a more resilient, equitable, and productive economy," he said.
ILO Social Protection Manager, Mr. Yu Jie Koh underscored that the initiative in Zambia will focus on promoting decent and productive jobs for young people-particularly in green, digital, and labour‑intensive sectors.
Mr. Koh emphasized that strengthening labour‑market‑responsive skills systems will be key to improving school‑to‑work transitions.
He also noted that the Global Accelerator approach will support the expansion of integrated and shock‑responsive social protection systems, ensuring vulnerable households are protected while also being linked to skills, employment, and livelihood opportunities.
Mr. Koh urged institutions to ensure coherence between the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) and the forthcoming 9NDP.
"Ensuring coherence will position Zambia for a strong and impactful engagement with the Global Accelerator. Together, let us ensure that this initiative contributes to a more inclusive future for our nation," he said.
