Source: Govt, WFP seal youth empowerment pact – herald
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
THE Government and the World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at empowering young Zimbabweans through skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and climate resilience as the Second Republic intensifies efforts to place youths at the centre of national development.
The agreement, signed in Harare today between WFP and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, is expected to strengthen collaboration in livelihoods support, digital inclusion, food systems transformation and youth participation in economic development initiatives.
The partnership also aligns with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies youth empowerment as a critical pillar in the country’s drive towards an upper-middle-income economy.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Mr Solomon Mhlanga, said the Government was committed to building a strong foundation for youths, who make up the majority of Zimbabwe’s population.
“I rely very much upon partnership with the private sector, the youth themselves and the communities out there. For us to be able to deal with the challenges that are there, as we are all aware, the youth are contributing more than 70 percent of our population, and these youths are the leaders of today and the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
“We need to make sure that we provide that solid base to the work which the youth will be tackling as we move this country forward.”
Mr Mhlanga described the support from WFP as critical in helping the Government achieve its youth empowerment objectives and strengthening resilience among young people.
“As a country, Zimbabwe, we are seeing that the youth are there to lead, to ensure that there is food self-sufficiency, and the youth have to lead in the resilience to ensure that the country does not get back to receiving donations,” he said.
“Zero hunger — if you find a country which is hungry, it means there is a problem. You will not be able to talk about development when you do not know what you are going to be eating the following day.”
He said the agreement builds on existing cooperation between the Government and WFP, which has already supported initiatives such as the National Youth Empowerment Strategy, the National Youth Empowerment Symposium, financial inclusion programmes and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Youth Business Forum.
He also revealed that the Government was moving to formalise collaboration with Songhai, a Benin-based agricultural training and innovation institution, following a recent South-South cooperation mission facilitated by WFP.
“The ministry is already working to formalise the partnership from the Government side, the Government of Zimbabwe and Songhai,” said Mr Mhlanga.
WFP Zimbabwe country director Ms Barbara Clemens said the agreement reflected a shared commitment to position youths as drivers of food systems transformation and economic growth.
“The MoU we sign today is a statement of shared belief that Zimbabwe’s young people should be drivers of solutions, leaders of food systems transformation and stewards of Zimbabwe’s future,” she said.
Ms Clemens said more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s population is under the age of 35, making investment in youth essential for long-term national development.
“This MoU deepens that collaboration and aligns squarely with the National Development Strategy 2, Vision 2030 and national efforts to place young people at the centre of development planning and implementation,” she said.
She said WFP’s new Country Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030 identifies youth as a cross-cutting priority, with focus areas including livelihoods creation, market access, enterprise development and innovation within resilient food systems.
“We are intentionally moving from policy to practice, from commitments to tangible opportunities for young people to build livelihoods, gain meaningful employment, start enterprises, access markets and innovate within resilient food systems,” said Ms Clemens.
The agreement is expected to strengthen partnerships between Government institutions, development partners, communities and the private sector as Zimbabwe advances efforts to empower youths and build sustainable economic resilience.
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