Internships and your first job · 2 min read
Youth-led business training in Zambia: lessons from the UNDP programme
Understand the 2025 training model and check official sources for any future opportunities.
UNDP Zambia and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts announced a youth-led business support programme in June 2025. The programme was designed for 200 youth-led small businesses in Lusaka, Kitwe and Livingstone. That announcement describes a past cohort and is not proof that applications are open today.
What the training involved
UNDP described a mix of online onboarding, in-person workshops, mentorship and pitch preparation. It also described a competition in which selected businesses could receive grants. The training and the competition were separate steps: not every participant was promised funding.
Prepare for a future opportunity
Write a clear summary of the business, its customers and how it earns or plans to earn revenue. Gather accurate records of any sales, costs and registration. A person with an early idea should check whether a particular programme requires an operating business before applying.
Verify the next intake
Check UNDP Zambia and the ministry’s official pages for a current announcement. Confirm eligibility, locations, accessibility, costs and deadlines, and ask who runs the programme. Do not send money to someone who claims they can secure a grant.
Training can help develop a business, but it is not a salaried vacancy. Ask what time and travel commitments are involved before deciding whether it fits your circumstances.