ZBiDF’s Manufacturing Broker Shupi Mweene attended the launch of the National Internship Pilot Programme held on 11th December, 2015.

The launch was facilitated by the Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The two organisations are working with the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sport to develop skills in youths and reduce the levels of unemployment in the country in line with the Action Plan for Youth Empowerment and Employment.

One of the key areas of the plan, which was launched by the Republican president, is to curb unemployment and bridge the skills gap through internships and apprenticeship programmes and the internship programme is the first step to achieving that.

ZFE and ILO are also working with the facility and some other stakeholders on the Wider Skills Development Partnership which seeks to address the skills gap and increase the employability of the youths in Zambia.

It is the government and indeed the two institution’s hope that through this programme, the youths can gain the required skills and understand what the industry requires of them thereby reducing the skills gap.

Currently, 27 graduates are under the programme and have been placed in different companies as interns for three months to gain practical knowledge of the industry.