Government will on October 1, 2026 begin the roll-out of the National Youth Internship Programme aimed at giving young people practical work experience and improving their chances of securing employment.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, Mr. Kangwa Chileshe, said the programme would provide structured workplace exposure, mentorship and skills development for young people across the country.

Mr. Chileshe said this during a press briefing in Lusaka today, Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

He said the programme follows a directive by Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema at this year’s National Youth Indaba for Government institutions to create meaningful opportunities for young people to gain practical work experience.

The programme will focus on addressing the challenge of limited work experience among young people while promoting skills development, mentorship, transformative leadership and improved employability.

Mr. Chileshe said the initiative builds on lessons from the Internship, Volunteer, Apprenticeship and Graduate Programme (IVAG), which was implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Country Team.

He said 2,000 young people were placed under IVAG in Government institutions, the UN and the private sector, with 360 later absorbed into permanent employment in both the public and private sectors.

Mr. Chileshe said Cabinet Office Circular Minute No. 19 of 2026 had directed Government ministries, provinces, agencies, commissions and quasi-government institutions to participate in the programme by placing interns for a period of one year.

He said the first phase of the programme will involve advertising internship opportunities, selecting eligible applicants and placing successful candidates.

Interns will be placed in offices up to principal level, with placements taking place in their respective provinces and districts.

Mr. Chileshe said participating institutions would be expected to provide interns with meaningful responsibilities, supervision, mentorship and a conducive learning environment.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office, Mr. Wisdom Bwalya, said Government had put measures in place to ensure that interns receive their allowances on time.

Mr. Bwalya said Government had worked to put the necessary systems in place to ensure interns are paid their dues in a timely manner.

The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts will coordinate and monitor the implementation of the programme in collaboration with relevant Government institutions.

Mr. Chileshe encouraged eligible young people across the country to take advantage of the opportunity once applications are advertised.

He said the programme was intended to create a pathway for young people to transition from education into employment and contribute to Zambia’s social and economic development.