In partnership with Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), Build It convened a landmark National Research Seminar on 6 May 2026 in Lusaka to explore the creation of more opportunities for women in construction and skills development.

Held under the theme “Building Bridges between Research and Practice: Exploring the Concepts of Gender, Construction and Skills Development in Zambia,” the seminar brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, training institutions and industry representatives to examine how research and evidence can be transformed into meaningful action that creates real opportunities for women.

In his opening remarks, Build It International Chief Executive Officer Tum Kazunga captured the purpose of the seminar saying: “Zambia’s construction sector is growing. The question this seminar asks is simple: who gets to be part of that growth?”

Build It CEO Tum Kazunga and the Ambassador of Ireland to Zambia, Mr Aidan Fitzpatrick, pictured in conversation during the event

Ambassador of Ireland to Zambia Mr Aidan Fitzpatrick giving opening remarks at the seminar

Stakeholders representing industry, academia, development partners and training institutions gathered for the event

Turning research into action

While Zambia has strong commitments to gender equality and inclusive skills development, women remain significantly underrepresented in construction trades and leadership roles.

Participants agreed that the challenge is not the absence of policy. Instead, the priority must be stronger implementation, greater accountability and closer collaboration across the sector.

The seminar marked an important step in connecting research with real-world practice. Presentations and discussions explored issues including access to training, workplace culture, mentorship, curriculum reform, technology, green construction and the important role men can play as allies driving change.

A clear message emerged: research should not remain on paper.

Research must move beyond academic discussion and directly inform training systems, workplace culture and policy implementation that improve opportunities for women.

A practical action agenda

Participants agreed that the seminar’s main output should be an action-focused agenda, rather than producing a traditional policy brief.

Key priorities identified include:

Why this matters for Zambia’s construction sector

Zambia’s construction sector continues to grow through infrastructure development, housing demand and emerging green economy opportunities.

However, women are still largely excluded from this growth. The seminar highlighted that addressing this is not only about gender equality. It is also about unlocking talent, strengthening the workforce and ensuring the sector benefits from the skills and contributions of all Zambians.

The construction sector is evolving. Discussions highlighted that new technologies, digital tools and green building methods are helping to reshape the industry and challenge outdated assumptions about who can succeed and lead within it.

Next steps

Thank you to everyone who took part in the seminar. Build It remains committed to continuing to advance gender diversity, practical skills training and inclusive pathways into construction. By working alongside partners, training institutions and industry stakeholders, we are helping to bridge the gap between evidence, policy and practice.

To maintain momentum, a second Build It – TEVETA Research Seminar has been proposed within the next two years. The event will assess progress, share lessons learned and present new research on priority evidence gaps, including curriculum quality, institutional governance and financing mechanisms.

By bringing together evidence, institutional leadership and practical recommendations, this National Research Seminar has set a strong foundation for advancing women’s participation in construction and building a more inclusive skills development system in Zambia.

The seminar was made possible with generous support from the Government of Ireland. For more information, please contact Build It Research Specialist Sarah M Mulenga via [email protected]