Assessing the Effectiveness of Youth Participation in Ward Development Committees: A Case Study of Matero Constituency in Lusaka District

This study assessed the effectiveness of youth participation in Ward Development Committees (WDCs) within Matero Constituency, Lusaka District. Despite robust international, regional, and national policy frameworks advocating for youth inclusion in governance, a significant gap persists between policy intent and practical implementation. The problem is characterized by minimal and often tokenistic youth engagement in local decision-making processes, exacerbated by systemic barriers such as cultural attitudes, lack of information, and insufficient institutional support, which collectively undermine the potential for sustainable and inclusive community development.

The research was guided by three specific objectives: to identify the enabling factors influencing youth engagement; to analyse the effects of institutional support mechanisms on youth participation; and to assess the relationship between youth participation and the effectiveness of community development decision-making. A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing a descriptive survey design and a case study of Matero Constituency. Data was collected from a purposive sample of 50 respondents, including youth and key informants, through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

The findings reveal a significant disparity between nominal membership and meaningful engagement. While 80% of respondents were WDC members, their participation was inconsistent and primarily motivated by short-term allowances (40%) rather than sustained civic duty. Critical barriers identified include a profound lack of information (40%) and exclusionary cultural attitudes (30%). Institutional support was found to be largely ineffective, with youth systematically excluded from pivotal processes; 72% reported no inclusion in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) planning, and 60% were not represented in WDC subcommittees. Consequently, the relationship between youth participation and decision-making is weak. A plurality of respondents (48%) felt the WDCs do not act on their issues, and a majority (66%) reported no involvement in project monitoring and evaluation, leading to a cycle of symbolic participation with limited impact on community development outcomes.

The study concludes that youth participation in Matero's WDCs is largely ineffective and symbolic. It recommends the institutionalization of transparent information sharing, mandatory youth representation in all committee structures, formal inclusion in the CDF cycle, and the establishment of dedicated ward-level youth officers to facilitate a fundamental shift from tokenism to substantive empowerment.