Government To Roll Out National Youth Internship Programme On October 1

The Zambian Government will on October 1, 2026 begin rolling out the National Youth Internship Programme, an initiative aimed at giving young people practical workplace experience and improving their chances of securing employment. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, Kangwa Chileshe, said the programme will provide structured workplace exposure, mentorship and […]

The Zambian Government will on October 1, 2026 begin rolling out the National Youth Internship Programme, an initiative aimed at giving young people practical workplace experience and improving their chances of securing employment.

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

Mr. Chileshe said this during a press briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, where he outlined details of the programme and how Government intends to implement it.

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

According to Mr. Chileshe, the programme is designed to address one of the major challenges facing young people entering the labour market — limited work experience — while also promoting skills development, mentorship, transformative leadership and improved employability.

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 United Nations Country Team.

Under IVAG, about 2,000 young people were placed in Government institutions, the United Nations and the private sector, with 360 participants later absorbed into permanent employment in both the public and private sectors.

Mr. Chileshe said Government is now seeking to build on that experience through a broader and more structured national internship programme.

He said Cabinet Office Circular Minute No. 19 of 2026 has directed Government ministries, provinces, agencies, commissions and quasi-government institutions to participate in the programme by placing interns for a period of one year.
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The first phase will involve advertising available internship opportunities, selecting eligible applicants and placing successful candidates in participating institutions.

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

Mr. Chileshe said participating institutions will be expected to ensure that interns are not merely present in offices but are given meaningful responsibilities that contribute to their professional development.

The institutions will also be required to provide supervision, mentorship and a conducive learning environment to help young people acquire practical skills and workplace experience.

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

Mr. Bwalya said systems have been put in place to facilitate the timely payment of allowances and ensure that participating young people receive what is due to them.

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

Mr. Chileshe has encouraged eligible young people across Zambia to take advantage of the programme once internship opportunities are advertised.

The programme is expected to provide a pathway for young people transitioning from education into the workplace, while helping them develop practical skills and experience that can strengthen their employment prospects.

With the first phase scheduled to begin on October 1, young people will be watching for the official advertisement of available positions, eligibility requirements and application procedures.

The Government says the broader objective is to create meaningful opportunities for young people to gain experience, develop leadership and professional skills, and ultimately contribute to Zambia’s social and economic development.

For thousands of young Zambians struggling to enter the labour market because they lack work experience, the National Youth Internship Programme could provide an opportunity to gain exposure to the workplace and develop skills that can be carried into future employment.
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