Zambia to pilot job creation initiative

Logistics was identified as a major provider of employment in a World Bankfinanced job creation initiative. Zambia has been selected by the “Let’s Work” organisation as a pilot for Africa. It is working with the government of Zambia to “develop a set of actionable proposals for investment and advice to create more, better and inclusive jobs. The work will address constraints to private sector-led job growth and labour productivity,” according to the organisation. Let’s Work is described as a global partnership led by the World Bank that unites organisations dedicated to providing effective solutions to the global jobs crisis by harnessing the potential of the private sector to help create more and better jobs that are inclusive. According to the World Bank, Zambia has many fundamentals in place to support job creation. They include political stability, an average economic growth rate of 7%, natural agricultural resources and commodities. It has attracted international investment, “yet the country still suffers from 62% poverty and job growth that is not keeping pace with population growth,” says the Let’s Work organisation in its announcement that it has started operating in Zambia. Opportunities identified by the programme include logistics and agro-processing. “Although Zambia is landlocked, it has borders with eight other countries. “This creates conditions for the country to become a major food trade hub for the sub region. There are opportunities for investment in the storage, trucking, warehousing and logistics industries, although these are challenged by the copper-induced strength of local currency,” it adds.