ILO, Zambian Government launch Employment Impact Assessment for Luangwa–Mwami Road

LUSAKA, Zambia (ILO News) - Stakeholders from government, labour organizations, development partners, and private sector representatives have officially validated and launched the Employment Impact Assessment (EmpIA) for the Luangwa-Mwami Road, a key section of the Nacala Corridor.
The launch took place on 04 March 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka.
The assessment is part of the ILO's STRENGTHEN2 project, co funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The Luangwa-Mwami stretch forms a critical segment of the Nacala Road Corridor, which connects Zambia to Mozambique through Malawi.
The five year STRENGTHEN2 project, which concludes in March, helps African governments make better informed public investment and policy decisions. It does this by using Employment Impact Assessments to estimate job creation and labour market outcomes.
The project operates in nine sub Saharan African countries: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, and Zambia.
Its main objective is to strengthen national capacity to measure the job impacts of major investments and ensure that infrastructure development results in more and better employment opportunities for local communities.
Speaking during the launch, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Honourable Brenda Tambatamba, highlighted the importance of using solid evidence to guide Zambia's infrastructure and employment strategies.
She said: "Employment creation must be planned, measurable, and grounded in evidence. This assessment of the Luangwa-Mwami Road shows what is possible when infrastructure is designed with people and jobs in mind."

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Honourable Brenda Tambatamba speaks at the launch in Lusaka.

ILO Country Office Director for Zambia and Malawi, Mr. Wellington Chibebe, explained that the assessment provides a detailed analysis of how the road rehabilitation has affected employment trends, wages, working hours, and access to social infrastructure along the corridor.
He said: "The Luangwa-Mwami study is the second employment impact assessment of the corridor. The first assessment used satellite based night-time lights to estimate economic and employment changes around the rehabilitated road. The latest study integrates Labour Force Survey data with Geographic Information Systems to give a clearer picture of how transport investments influence job creation and access to essential services."
Mr. Chibebe added that such assessments offer valuable insights into the number and quality of jobs that infrastructure projects can generate.

ILO Country Office Director for Zambia and Malawi, Mr. Wellington Chibebe speaks at the launch in Lusaka.

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President, Mr. Blake Mulala, welcomed the report and its practical value for future policy decisions.
He said: "Workers benefit when infrastructure investments create decent, stable jobs. Tools like the Employment Impact Assessment are essential for protecting workers' welfare as development accelerates."

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President, Mr. Blake Mulala speaks at the launch in Lusaka.

Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) President, Mrs. Myra Ngoma Sakala, also commended the findings.
"Employers welcome this evidence. It gives us clarity on labour dynamics and helps the private sector plan investments and skills needs along the Nacala Corridor," she said.

Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) President, Mrs. Myra Ngoma Sakala speaks at the launch in Lusaka.