15 Apr 2026

 Youth economic growth and job creation remain central to the revised National Youth Policy 2026, with focus on partnerships with the private sector and programmes targeting rural employment. 

That was revealed by Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Lesego Chombo, when presenting the policy in Parliament on Tuesday. 

Minister Chombo indicated that the revised framework balanced the economic dimension with holistic health priorities, including mental wellness, gender-based violence prevention and HIV/AIDS awareness. 

She said the policy aimed to create a generation capable of driving economic growth, social cohesion and environmental stewardship through targeted programmes, institutional reforms and strategic partnerships.

 She added that the policy also recognised the need for strong collaboration with the private sector to guide curricular development and absorption rates into tertiary institutions and ensure seamless transition from education into the labour market.

 “The revised National Youth Policy 2026-2036 represents a bold step toward equipping Botswana’s youth with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to lead in an increasingly complex world,” she said. 

Minister Chombo highlighted that the revised policy underscored government’s commitment to addressing unemployment, fostering innovation, promoting mental and physical well-being and empowering young leaders across sectors.

 “By linking education, technology and leadership development with practical pathways for employment and entrepreneurship, Botswana is positioning its youth as active contributors to national development. 

The policy sets the stage for a decade of measurable progress to ensure that young people are not only beneficiaries of national growth but also active architects of the country’s future,” Ms Chombo said.

 The policy, she noted, spoke to the young entrepreneur whose ideas could not scale due to limited access, not only to capital but to resources currently controlled by red tape. 

She further highlighted that approximately 60 per cent of the population was below the age of 25, while 35 per cent fell within the 15-35 age bracket. “This demographic reality positions Botswana to harness a significant demographic dividend.” 

On youth economic empowerment, Ms Chombo stated that the policy intended to shift young people from exclusion to productivity, arguing that 80 per cent of youth completing internships should transition into sustainable employment by 2030.

 She said the policy also provided for a 40 per cent target by 2030 of graduates of entrepreneurship programmes to establish registered enterprises and cooperatives, while a significant portion of youth-owned businesses should become globally competitive and export-ready. 

Recognising the challenges youth faced in accessing start-up capital, Ms Chombo noted that the ministry was in the process of remodelling the Youth Development Fund (YDF) to make it more sustainable and efficient. 

“The policy recognises the creative sector as a driver of youth economic participation and will support commercialisation of creatives through access to funding, digitalisation, market linkages and intellectual property protection,” she added. Furthermore, she said the ministry was committed to implementing tangible interventions through its subsidiary body, the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC). She said it was envisaged that once remodelled, the programme would improve financial and operational sustainability, automation and strengthen governance.

 “The programme is expected to create decent employment for young people coupled with mentorship, post-funding support and facilitation to access markets,” said the minister. ENDS