Youths in the driving seat

As you know, Zimbabwe is a relatively youthful country. It is currently on an ambitious and exciting economic recovery trajectory. The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training is thus seeking to identify and unlock socio-economic opportunities for youths, who happen to be the majority of our population. Empowering youths is empowering the majority. The country’s future is likewise determined by the majority.

Zimbabwe’s journey to self-reliance must begin with locally led-development.

In October, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a US $5 million programme to discover locally owned sustainable solutions.

It is called the Local Works Zimbabwe Youth Programme, and its the second such programme.

In announcing the facility, USAID Mission Director, Art Brown, said focus in this programme is allowing young people to take the driver’s seat.

“Our approach under the Local Works, slightly differs from the traditional method of development design and implementation,” he explained.

“We want you, as the youth to take the lead in defining and addressing the diverse challenges you face, so that we support you to meet your social and economic needs.”

Three years ago USAID celebrated achievements of the first Local Works Zimbabwe programme. It collaborated with 27 local non-government organisations (NGOs) and private sector partners in 12 districts to equip nearly 29 000 young people with life-changing skills — setting them on a path to self-reliance.

More than half of these young people were young women.

Beneficiaries of this programme earned US $31 million and generated 6 000 jobs during the life time of the programme.

The new programme launched in October comes at a time Zimbabwe is looking towards the road to recovery from Covid-19. It is therefore vital, that for any successful Covid-19 recovery strategy, focus must be on youths.

Explained USAID’s Brown: “Though older people suffer disproportionately from the health consequences of the virus, Covid-19, has no doubt affected access to basic education for children and youths who have been out of school.

“Despite efforts to reach them through remote schooling approaches, for many children, 2020 is a lost year. But we are hopeful that as youth, you will emerge stronger, more resilient and more determined than ever to reshape your futures.”

USAID says it will support local actors — young people, communities, youth networks, organisations, the private sector and others in setting their development agendas, coming up with solutions and increasing the capacity, leadership and resources that will make these solutions reality.

The Local Works Zimbabwe Youth Programme is a strategy for assisting young people in both urban and rural areas.

Youths, particularly young women, remain more likely to be unemployed than any other group in Zimbabwe.

A recent study by the Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) found that 93 percent of young people are not formally employed.

This is a very significant number and it means young people urgently need an avenue to earn an income so that they can feed themselves and their families.

The USAID Director says he has met many young people who have requested partnerships to support their development, and harness and protect their ideas.

“This is why we are saying we can help you as young people. USAID is providing the space that young people need to harness and develop their ideas.

“This new Local Works Programme shows our commitment to supporting the people of Zimbabwe. Because Zimbabwean ideas, Zimbabwean innovators, and Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, have what it takes to transform this economy.”

Under Local Works, USAID will be experimenting, learning, and sharing with young Zimbabweans.

“In addition, we know understanding local systems, context, challenges, and opportunities and building relationships takes time.

“We also intend to find creative ways to do things in support of, rather than for, our local partners. We will strengthen existing relationships, identify new and non-traditional partners, and build upon existing local initiatives, ideas, and resources.”

USAID will prioritise young people’s needs through active listening, and build on this listening culture so that it continues to adapt its activities.

Earlier this year, USAID received input from young people who responded to request for information. It expects this feedback to continue on how it can support youth economic empowerment and how it can assist in achieving the dreams held by the youths.