TITLE:
Empowering Rural Youth for Sustainable Livelihoods: Assessing Access to Livelihood Assets in Community Conservancies of the Zambezi Region, Namibia
AUTHORS:
Nico L. Sisinyize
KEYWORDS:
Rural Youth, Sustainable Livelihoods, Community Conservancies, Livelihood Assets
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.8,
August
19,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study investigates strategies for fostering sustainable livelihoods among rural youth living in community conservancies of Namibia’s Zambezi Region. It focuses on evaluating how young people access and utilize various livelihood assets within these conservation landscapes to support their socio-economic well-being. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study employed interviews and focus group discussions to gather data from local youth and major stakeholders. The analysis examines how socio-economic conditions, institutional mechanisms and environmental settings shape youth participation in livelihood activities. Findings reveal that rural youth have access to multiple livelihood assets namely natural, human, social, physical, and financial capitals, yet their utilization remains constrained by limited market access, inadequate financial and training support, insufficient involvement in decision-making processes, and restricted access to relevant information. The study emphasizes the need for integrated and inclusive approaches that align conservation objectives with youth-centered development strategies. Such approaches can enhance the capacity of rural youth to actively contribute to both sustainable livelihood creation and environmental stewardship within the Zambezi Region.