Zambia bets on AI to unlock jobs and innovation for its youth 🇿🇲🤖

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Confronted with rising youth unemployment, Zambia is betting big on artificial intelligence (AI) to train its young population, boost innovation, and strengthen its digital economy. President Hakainde Hichilema’s government is pushing to build a regulated and inclusive framework that turns technological potential into tangible opportunities.

A national strategy to guide AI 📜

On August 21, the Panos Institute of Southern Africa and Diakonia Zambia hosted a roundtable bringing together government officials and civil society to discuss AI’s impact on governance and employment. During the event, Brilliant Habeenzu, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Technology and Science, outlined the government’s ambitions.

Zambia is preparing a national AI strategy, tied to its broader policy on science, technology, and innovation. The goals are clear: regulate the use of emerging technologies, strengthen data protection, and stimulate the creation of innovation hubs. Another key priority is digital skills training — equipping young people with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.

The youth challenge 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓

According to the World Bank, nearly 90% of young Zambians were locked out of the formal economy in 2023 due to a lack of relevant skills. The government hopes to reverse that trend by channeling AI into strategic sectors such as digital services, agri-tech, and telecommunications.

The National AI Strategy (2024–2026) calls for pilot projects not only in government but also in agriculture, healthcare, and education. In September 2024, authorities announced the creation of an AI Center of Excellence at the University of Zambia, in partnership with Google and the Zambian Research and Education Network (ZAMREN). Official projections suggest AI could lift Zambia’s GDP by nearly 8% by 2030, despite growth slowing to 4.5% in Q1 2025.

Learning from other African countries 🌍

For Zambia to realize its ambitions, it will need to tackle several hurdles — from making training accessible in rural areas to ensuring that graduates have real career pathways.

Other African countries offer examples worth watching. In Benin, the Guerra Tech Hub in Parakou has already trained over 120 young women, 500 educators, and raised digital awareness among more than 15,000 people. Meanwhile, in Côte d’Ivoire, the Yango Fellowship in Abidjan aims to train hundreds of thousands of young people to strengthen the local tech ecosystem.

These initiatives suggest that inclusive strategies — built around community-driven tech hubs and entrepreneurship support — can accelerate innovation and job creation.

Turning ambition into reality 🚀

If Zambia wants to position itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, it must ensure fair access to training and align newly acquired skills with the needs of strategic sectors. Success will also hinge on how well institutions regulate AI and how much support they can provide to young entrepreneurs.

The ultimate challenge: transforming a long-marginalized youth into the driving force of a digital economy capable of competing on the African stage.

👉🏾 Do you think AI will ultimately create more jobs than it eliminates in Africa? Share your thoughts in the comments.