12/05/2026
Coordination and Partnerships
The governance and coordination structure for the National Youth Employment Strategy for Zimbabwe is designed to ensure effective oversight, management, and implementation of youth empowerment initiatives in alignment with national development priorities. Good governance is the cornerstone of sustainable youth empowerment.
At the apex of this structure is the Office of the President and Cabinet, which provides overall policy direction and strategic oversight in line with national goals. To ensure that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are implementing the strategy and allocating dedicated budgets, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, through Youth Focal Desks, will monitor progress and ensure regular biannual reporting to Cabinet. The coordination framework is illustrated in Figure 1.
Below this, ten Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) operate, each aligned with the priority areas identified in NDS 2. This strategy falls under the TWG dedicated to Job Creation, Youth Development, the Creative Industry, and Culture. The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training chairs this TWG and oversees its secretariat, which plays a central role in coordinating efforts across the four sectors it encompasses.
Each sector within the TWG is led by designated Chairs or Sector Leaders responsible for developing strategies, tracking progress, and facilitating collaboration among stakeholders in their respective areas. Development Partners contribute financial support and technical expertise, strengthening the TWG’s capacity. Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) ensure local relevance and responsiveness by engaging directly with communities.
The Private Sector provides resources, employment opportunities, and innovation, playing a critical role in delivering youth empowerment initiatives. Academia and Research Institutions offer evidence-based insights and data analysis to inform policy and programmatic decisions. Collectively, these actors work to address the distinct needs and challenges of their sectors, supporting a holistic approach to youth empowerment.
Effective coordination is fundamental to the successful implementation of the strategy. The established structure offers a comprehensive national framework that enables meaningful participation from a broad range of stakeholders, including government entities, civil society, private sector actors, and youth themselves. It is designed to manage both core and cross-cutting components of the strategy, with a focus on strategic issues affecting young people.
