EMPOWERING MALAWI’S YOUTH FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION 11.1 Overview With over 60% of Malawi’s population comprising young people, the youth demographic represents both a transformative resource and a pressing challenge for the nation’s development.This large workforce holds immense potential to drive economic growth, innovation, and social progress. However, systemic barriers such as limited job opportunities, skills mismatches, and inadequate access to resources hinder their ability to contribute meaningfully to Malawi’s prosperity.Challenges facing youth development include:
Unmotivated and complacent leadership: neglecting to foster a vibrant and progressive youth development agenda, stifling opportunities for growth,creativity, and national advancement.
Youth Unemployment: Limited access to formal job markets relegates many young people to the informal sector, characterized by low wages, minimal job security, and constrained productivity.
Skills Mismatch: The education system produces graduates who struggle to meet the demands of the modern labor market.
11.2 UTM Pledges: A Youth-Centered Transformation Target Milestone: By 2035, UTM aims to reduce youth unemployment to less than 10% by creating at least 1 million formal and informal job opportunities. UTM also targets establishing 28 innovation hubs—one per district—and ensuring that 90% of Malawi’s youth are digitally literate and engaged in the global economy. Theseinitiatives will position Malawi as a regional leader in youth empowerment and directly contribute to MW2063’s Human Capital Development and Wealth Creation goals. 11.2.1 Ending Child Marriages and Promoting Education Alignment with MW2063: Advances Human Capital Development by ensuring every child completes basic education and delays early marriage. UTM Pledges:
Ban Child Marriages: Enforce strict laws to end child marriages, ensuring all children,especially girls, complete their education.
Incentivize Chiefs and Communities: Partner with traditional leaders and communities, offering incentives to those actively combating child marriages and supporting youth education initiatives.
Expand Secondary and Higher Education: Improve access to secondary schools and reduce barriers to higher education through scholarships, free tuition for underprivileged youth, and rural school infrastructure investments.
11.2.2 Creating Jobs and Enhancing Skills Alignment with MW2063: Drives Inclusive Wealth Creation and Economic Resilience by building a skilled workforce and creating employment opportunities. UTM Pledges:
Employment and Training Programs: Invest in nationwide youth employment initiatives that include job training, apprenticeships, and self-employment opportunities.
Align Education with Market Needs: Reform education systems to focus on technical and vocational training, entrepreneurship, and digital skills. Modernize curricula to prepare students for careers in high-demand industries such as technology, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy.
Community Work Opportunities: Launch community-based work programs that provide young people with skills, employment, and a pathway to contribute to local development. 11.2.3 Supporting Youth Entrepreneurs Alignment with MW2063: Promotes Private Sector Dynamism by encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation. UTM Pledges:
Access to Finance: Create national programs that provide mentorship, startup capital, and business development training for young entrepreneurs. Collaborate with financial institutions to offer youth-friendly loans with minimal collateral requirements.
Innovation Hubs: Establish youth-focused innovation and entrepreneurship hubs in every district, providing access to technology, mentorship, and networks to develop and scale business ideas. 11.2.4 Bridging the Digital Divide Alignment with MW2063: Encourages Technology Adoption by equipping youth with digital skills and tools to compete globally. UTM Pledges:
Digital Infrastructure Expansion: Invest in nationwide digital infrastructure to internet access affordable and accessible,especially in rural areas.
Digital Literacy Training: Implement comprehensive programs to equip young people with essential digital skills, such as coding, data analytics, and digital marketing.
Global Opportunities: Enable young people to engage in global digital economies through platforms that promote online work, e-commerce, and cross-border innovation. 11.2.5 Representation in Governance Alignment with MW2063: Strengthens Governance by ensuring youth voices are represented in decision-making processes
UTM Pledges:
Youth Inclusion in Decision-Making: Establish youth councils at district and national levels to ensure policies reflect the needs and aspirations of young people.
Political Participation: Increase youth representation in Parliament and local councils through mentorship programs and support for young candidates. 11.2.6 Strengthening Sports and Creative Industries Alignment with MW2063: Advances Human Capital Development and Private Sector Dynamism by promoting talent and innovation.
UTM Pledges:
Youth Talent Development: Support youth participation in sports, music, film, and other creative industries by providing funding, mentorship, and platforms for showcasing talent.
Community Recreation Spaces: Build sports facilities and creative hubs across districts to engage youth in productive and enriching activities
11.3 Estimated Investment and Funding Mechanisms Estimated Investment: $4 billion over the next decade to support job creation, education reforms, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurial initiatives.Funding Sources:
National Budget Allocation: Allocate 20-25% of the national budget to youthcentered programs, ensuring consistent and sustainable financing.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Engage the private sector to co-invest in innovation hubs, digital infrastructure, and community programs.
Leverage MACRA and Telco Companies: Partner with the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and telecommunications companies to fund and support digital literacy and coding programs. Establish linkages with global technology firms to invest in local tech training and innovation initiatives.
International Grants: Access funding from global youth development and digital transformation initiatives.
Diaspora Contributions: Mobilize the Malawian diaspora to support youthfocused projects through crowdfunding and investments.
Conclusion Malawi’s youth represent an untapped powerhouse of energy, talent, and innovation. By addressing structural barriers to education, employment,entrepreneurship, and governance, a UTM-led government will unlock this potential and create a generation of leaders, innovators, and change makers.Aligned with MW2063’s pillars and enablers, UTM’s youth-centered vision will transform this demographic into a driving force for national progress.Through bold investments in education reform, access to finance, skills training, and digital infrastructure, Malawi’s youth will not only drive national progress but also position the country as a competitive force on the global stage. Together, we can build a Malawi where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
