By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Harare, – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $50 million to launch the Skills for Youth and Women Employability and Productivity Project in Zimbabwe, aimed at addressing the country’s high unemployment rates and skill gaps among its youth and women.
Ms. Belinda Chesire, AfDB’s representative for Zimbabwe, emphasized the project’s ambitious goal to create sustainable employment opportunities in the agricultural sector through targeted skills training and entrepreneurship initiatives.
“With a Bank contribution of nearly $50 million, we are determined to equip Zimbabwe’s youth and women with the skills, resources, and market access needed to thrive in the agricultural sector and beyond,” Chesire stated at the official launch event.
The project is designed to enhance productivity, create market linkages, and provide critical skills training for youth and women, particularly through Zimbabwe’s Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The funding will also support work experience opportunities, internships, and job placements, while linking smallholder producers with private off-takers to boost agricultural value chains.
Over the course of the project, which will run from 2025 to 2028, it is expected that 3,900 direct jobs will be created, with an additional 10,000 indirect jobs in sectors like horticulture, goat farming, and fish production.
In addition to direct job creation, the project aims to strengthen the TVET sector, contributing to the development of employable skills that are aligned with market demands.
Chesire further revealed that the project will help connect Zimbabwe’s smallholder farmers with private sector off-takers who have existing export contracts, particularly in the horticulture value chain.
These partnerships are expected to increase the number of smallholder farmers involved, from 2,300 to 5,000, and facilitate the export of 15-20 tonnes of horticultural products per week to European markets.
The $50 million initiative is part of the AfDB’s broader commitment to enhancing private sector investment for inclusive growth and youth employment, as well as its continued efforts to support Zimbabwe’s economic development.
“This project is fully aligned with our goals under the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy and the High 5s,” Chesire said. “We aim to invest in youth and women to foster inclusive growth and economic transformation.
The $50 million investment will support TVET institutions, provide financial support for entrepreneurship, and create valuable market linkages for smallholder farmers.”
The AfDB’s investment is set to be complemented by support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) as the technical implementing partner and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) as the disbursement agent. Together, these organizations will work to ensure the project’s timely and efficient implementation.
With the support of $50 million from AfDB, the Skills for Youth and Women Employability and Productivity Project is expected to significantly contribute to addressing Zimbabwe’s youth unemployment challenges while empowering women in the agricultural sector.
“The time for action is now,” Chesire concluded.
“We are excited about the potential of this project to transform the lives of Zimbabwe’s youth and women, ensuring that they can access meaningful employment and contribute to the country’s economic growth.”
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