The voice of Zambian youth reflected in the Draft National Youth Development Council Act 2025

In March 2025, in recognition of National Youth Day, a Youth Governance Roundtable brought together young leaders, students, civil society and educational institution representatives at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia.

This event focused on providing youth-led input on the Draft National Youth Development Council Act 2025, which had been opened for public consultation by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts (MYSA). Organized with the support of our implementing partner, Restless Development, and in collaboration with Girls Gone Political Zambia and the Legal Aid Initiative, the roundtable created space for critical dialogue on the draft legislation.

The Act aims to repeal and replace Chapter 144 of the Laws of Zambia to strengthen frameworks that support youth development, participation, and empowerment. Five young participants, including representatives from Girls Gone Political and Legal Aid Zambia, reviewed the draft provisions and contributed insights based on community-level experience and national youth priorities during the session. The discussions resulted in developing a joint position paper, which was formally submitted to MYSA. This document captured the collective perspectives of young Zambians, calling for more transparent, inclusive, and responsive governance mechanisms in youth policy.

This engagement also contributed to broader outcomes beyond the consultation itself. It strengthened collaboration among youth-led and civil society organizations engaged in legal and policy advocacy. Furthermore, it demonstrated the commitment of the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab programme to amplify youth perspectives in decision-making spaces. The submission of this youth-driven position paper ensured that the proposed law is informed by those it is meant to serve and promotes a more inclusive approach to national development.