A YOUNG Zambian health innovator has been thrust onto the global stage as part of a team of youth leaders working to strengthen the world’s defences against biological weapons.
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Felix Kangwa, a clinician, is among four outstanding young professionals selected for the 2025 UN Youthful Biosecurity Fellowship, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), the world’s first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the development, production and stockpiling of biological weapons.
Kangwa, is a recipient of the Presidential Innovation Award by President Hakainde Hichilema and an active mentor for young health leaders across Africa.
he represents Zambia, in a team comprising Feruza Alikulova from Uzbekistan, Dr Nojus Saad from Iran and Bushra Shammout from Jordan.
The four, operating as ‘Group Five’, are developing TRUST-AI, a youth-led artificial intelligence platform set to modernise the BWC process by increasing transparency, identifying potential risks and making treaty data more accessible and verifiable.
According to Kangwa, the project is not just about technology but also about ensuring that young innovators are included in global security processes traditionally dominated by high-income nations.
“The beauty of this work is that no one person owns it. It’s not about nationality or profession. It’s about pooling different skills to solve problems no single country can solve alone,” Kangwa told #Kalemba.
The team is set to unveil their innovation today during International Youth Day, in what will be a showcase of how youth from diverse continents, cultures and disciplines can work together to strengthen global peace and security.
The BWC, signed in 1975, was a milestone in global disarmament, but experts say new biosecurity threats, data gaps and the underrepresentation of youth in decision-making remain serious challenges.
Kangwa’s participation signals Zambia’s contribution to cutting-edge, tech-driven solutions in this critical area.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 12, 2025
