Analysing the Effectiveness of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) on Youth Empowerment in Zambia: A Case of Lusaka Central Constituency

Youth entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a critical pathway for addressing unemployment, poverty, and economic marginalization in developing countries such as Zambia. In support of decentralisation and inclusive local development, the Government of Zambia expanded the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to include empowerment grants and loans targeting vulnerable groups, particularly the youth. This study assessed the utilization and effectiveness of CDF on youth empowerment in Lusaka Central Constituency and examined challenges affecting access to the fund. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted, integrating quantitative survey data from youths with qualitative interviews of CDF administrators and key stakeholders. Findings reveal that while awareness of CDF opportunities is relatively high, a significant proportion of youths remain unaware or do not apply for available funding, indicating a gap between perceived availability and actual uptake. Statistical analysis shows a significant relationship between access challenges and perceptions of bureaucratic delays, with technical capacity limitations, low literacy levels, and difficulties in preparing proposals identified as key barriers. Additionally, many respondents perceive the allocation process as lacking transparency, raising concerns about fairness and accountability. The study concludes that although CDF has strong potential to promote youth empowerment, its effectiveness is constrained by administrative inefficiencies, limited accessibility, and governance challenges. It recommends improving awareness campaigns, simplifying application procedures, enhancing capacity-building initiatives, and strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms to maximize the impact of CDF on youth empowerment.