A partnership has been established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zambia Institute of Independent Media Alliance (ZIIMA), marking a significant step toward amplifying youth voices and strengthening their visibility. This collaboration brings together shared interests in youth empowerment, knowledge sharing and public engagement.

ZIIMA is a non-profit dedicated to advancing ethical journalism, digital rights and civic participation in Zambia. The organisation works to amplify underrepresented voices, safeguard independent reporting and connect media to broader development agendas.

The purpose of this MoU is to create a practical and mutually respectful working relationship focused on youth empowerment, knowledge sharing and strengthening public awareness. It also aims to ensure that young people’s voices and achievements are reflected in the public domain through storytelling and advocacy.

This partnership strengthens the documentation and visibility of Award journeys by leveraging ZIIMA’s expertise in media and communication. Through the MoU, support in storytelling, documentation and the production of communication materials will enhance how participants’ experiences are captured and presented. In addition, the focus on media literacy and digital storytelling builds internal capacity to share these journeys more effectively, while network sharing creates opportunities for wider reach. As a result, young people’s voices and achievements are more clearly reflected in the public domain, in line with the objectives of the MoU.

In addition, a shared approach to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) will be implemented to assess impact, capture lessons and strengthen accountability. This will ensure continuous improvement and support evidence-based reporting on the outcomes of the partnership.

This MoU reflects a shared commitment to collaboration and to creating opportunities that support youth engagement and visibility.