The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with Stanbic Bank over a two-year programme that is aimed at supporting youths through skills development, employment pathways, and volunteerism that connect directly to economic demand.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lusaka, Stanbic Bank Chief Executive Officer, Mwindwa Siakalima, said that the partnership is also aimed at supporting the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Hub at the University of Zambia.
Mr Siakalima added that the memorandum of understanding is critical in providing more access to Finance for small and medium enterprises SME’s), by offering tailored financial solutions that focus on collateral free loans and self-securing asset financing.
“It positions young people and institutions to participate meaningfully in a technology enabled economy, while ensuring innovation remains practical and inclusive,” added Mr Siakalima.
UNDP Resident Representative, James Wakiaga added that the partnership aligns with Zambia’s development moment where economic reform, public finance discipline, and private sector led growth must translate into jobs, enterprise growth, and inclusive prosperity.
Mr Wakiaga added that the partnership is a strong and deliberate focus on small-and medium-sized enterprises operating in the agribusiness and mining sectors as mining
remains Zambia’s primary foreign exchange earner.
He said that the partnership makes a decisive investment in the national skills architecture required to deliver local content at scale, in alignment with the Government’s Local Content agenda.
He also said that embedding artificial intelligence within the national development agenda, advances Zambia’s ambitions under the 8th National Development Plan and the emerging AI Strategy that ensures that innovation directly contributes to productivity, competitiveness, and inclusive growth.
