WFP Delegation Meets with Ministry Officials to Advance Youth Empowerment Agenda

Everisto Zhuwao

Representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP) Zimbabwe convened with government officials at the Old Parliament Building yesterday to chart a path forward for national youth development.

The high-level courtesy call featured discussions between the WFP delegation and the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Hon. T. Machakaire, alongside Deputy Minister Hon. K. Mupamhanga. The primary objective of the meeting was to identify strategic areas of cooperation and accelerate the operationalisation of the Youth Empowerment Strategy, which was officially launched in 2025.

Central to the dialogue was the rollout of several targeted programmes designed by the WFP to foster sustainable livelihoods and economic resilience among the country’s youth population. By aligning international expertise with the government’s existing policy framework, the parties aim to translate the 2025 strategy into tangible outcomes.

“The focus is on creating concrete pathways for youth involvement in the broader food security and development landscape,” said a spokesperson close to the proceedings.

While specific details of the upcoming programmes remain in the developmental phase, the meeting underscored a unified commitment to the government’s “Youth Agenda for Transformation.” Both the Ministry and the WFP delegation emphasised that investing in youth potential is a vital component of securing the nation’s economic future.

The meeting also served as a platform to coordinate efforts with key local stakeholders, including the Zimbabwe Youth Council and EmpowerBank Zimbabwe, to ensure that the planned initiatives effectively reach their intended beneficiaries.

As the WFP and the Ministry move toward the implementation phase, the collaboration is expected to provide much-needed support for vocational training and entrepreneurial opportunities, marking a significant step in the ongoing effort to place youth empowerment at the centre of Zimbabwe’s national development goals.