United Nations Namibia

14/09/2026

Youth ideas need a pathway to impact.

Namibia has no shortage of young people with ideas, ambition and creativity. The development challenge is ensuring that those ideas can move from ideation to viable solutions, enterprise, jobs and measurable impact.

That was the bigger question behind the “From Ideation to Impact: Who’s Holding the Door Open?” intergenerational panel at ’s : who must do what to turn youth potential into development results?

The answer points to shared responsibility.

UN SDG Advocate Monica Geingos challenged institutions to move beyond consultation and put opportunity and resources behind credible youth ideas — while creating space for mentorship, intergenerational leadership and responsible experimentation.

For , Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo focused on the pathway from participation to influence. Young people must understand the systems they seek to influence, bring evidence and solutions, and know what they are asking of whom. Institutions, in turn, must connect youth recommendations to those with the mandate, expertise and resources to act. The real test is whether youth participation influences a decision, shapes an investment, changes a programme or leads to action.

The other panellists brought essential pieces of that pathway. Keith Handura of the Environmental Investment Fund brought the finance and enterprise lens: a good idea must solve a real problem and become a viable, bankable proposition. Hon. Willem Amutenya connected youth enterprise, including agriculture, to employment, income, local value chains and progress across the SDGs. Rosy Shaneck of the Commonwealth Youth Council reinforced the need for organised youth representation, stronger networks and substantive engagement with institutions.

The development pathway is therefore clear:

Youth agency + enabling policy + skills and mentorship + finance + partnerships → enterprise, decent work, stronger communities and SDG impact.

For the UN, the role is to help connect the pieces — convening partners, bringing evidence and technical expertise, linking youth to relevant institutions and helping create pathways from recommendations to implementation.

The result Namibia should expect is not simply more youth consultation. It is stronger human capital, youth-led enterprise, decent work, meaningful influence in decision-making and locally driven solutions that advance sustainable development.

Opening the door matters. What ultimately counts is what changes when young people walk through it.

12/09/2026

Namibia is attracting major green investment. Are young Namibians ready to seize the opportunities?
YAG member Toini Amutenya explains why relevant skills, inclusive planning & youth empowerment are key to building Namibia’s future workforce.

12/09/2026

Green finance must create value at home.

Namibia has significant opportunities in renewable energy, green hydrogen, critical minerals and emerging industries. But the bigger development question is not simply how much investment Namibia can attract.

It is what that investment will deliver.

Will it create decent jobs? Will Namibian businesses participate in emerging value chains? Will young people have the skills to seize new opportunities? Will more value be created and retained locally? And will investment ultimately translate into better lives and more resilient communities?

These questions were at the heart of the 2nd International Conference on Finance and Sustainable Business (ICFSB 2026), convened by the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) through its Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School of Business, under the theme “Rethinking Green Finance Innovation for Sustainable Business Models.”

The perspectives of Government, the United Nations, academia and the private sector point to a shared development challenge: how to turn Namibia’s green opportunities into lasting national value.
In his keynote address, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Hon. Modestus Amutse brought the national economic transformation perspective. Namibia’s opportunity is not simply to supply resources required by the global green transition. Finance, infrastructure, skills and industrial policy must enable the country to move into higher-value stages of production and strengthen local participation in emerging value chains.

For , the development proposition is equally important: green finance is a means, not an end. UN Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo stressed that the real measure of investment is whether it creates decent jobs, stimulates innovation, supports local enterprises, strengthens productive capacity and improves people’s lives.

The private sector brings another piece of the equation. Gondwana Collection Namibia Managing Director Gys Joubert demonstrated how commercial viability can coexist with employment, conservation and community development, reinforcing that sustainability must be embedded in how businesses operate and create value.
Connect the dots and the development pathway becomes clear.

Energy enables industrialisation. Industrialisation creates jobs. Jobs require skills. Skills drive productivity, innovation and competitiveness. Sustainable businesses turn those capabilities into economic and community value. And partnerships connect national ambition with finance, knowledge, technology and opportunity.

As convenor, NUST is also part of that development equation. Universities can anticipate future skills needs, strengthen research and innovation, support entrepreneurship and connect education with industry, helping Namibia build the knowledge and capabilities required for emerging industries.
And at the centre of that future are young people.

Infrastructure and investment can be mobilised within years. Developing the engineers, technicians, researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators who will sustain Namibia’s transformation takes much longer. Investing in people must therefore accompany investment in infrastructure.

Young people should not simply inherit Namibia’s green economy. They must help build it. Their role is reflected in the conference programme through a Youth-led Conversation with the UN Namibia Youth Advisory Group, creating space for young people to contribute to the development conversation themselves.

So, what should the results look like?

More value created and retained in Namibia. More competitive local enterprises. More decent jobs. More young people with future-ready skills. More innovation. Stronger communities. And greater national capability to compete in the industries of the future.

That is where the roles converge: Government creates the enabling environment. Business invests, innovates and turns opportunity into enterprise. Universities build knowledge and skills. Young people bring talent and ideas. And the United Nations helps connect these efforts to Namibia’s broader development priorities and the SDGs.
Natural resources can attract investment.

But people, knowledge, innovation and sustainable enterprise will determine how much of that opportunity Namibia turns into lasting development.

03/09/2026

From results to impact : what does the UN–Namibia partnership mean for people and communities ?

Jobs and livelihoods. Youth opportunities. Climate resilience. Health. Education.

These areas are interconnected and together they contribute to stronger communities and a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Our interactive 2025 e-report brings the results together and shows how the 🇺🇳–🇳🇦 partnership is contributing to Namibia’s development priorities and the .

🔗 Explore the results : https://namibia.unteamresults.org/en/2025/1195-united-nations-results-report-namibia-2025

19/08/2026

2nd National Forum advances disability rights and inclusion in Namibia

The 2nd National Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is underway at UN House in Windhoek, bringing together Government, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, the National Disability Council, civil society, development partners and the United Nations system.

Spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President and supported by the United Nations in Namibia, the two-day Forum, taking place from 19–20 August 2026, provides an important platform to assess progress, identify persistent barriers and strengthen collective action to advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Namibia.

“The success of this Forum should not be measured by the quality of our discussions alone, but by the actions that follow. Let us move from commitments to implementation, from consultation to participation, and from intention to measurable action.”

— Erika Goldson, Chairperson of the UN Namibia Disability Working Group, represented by Loide Amkongo, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Namibia.

06/08/2026

Working smarter together has never been more important.

As global development funding becomes more limited and development challenges become increasingly complex, stronger partnerships and smarter coordination are essential to maximise resources and deliver greater impact for the people of Namibia.

The Development Partners' Dialogue brought together bilateral and multilateral partners, the United Nations, international financial institutions, civil society and research institutions to strengthen collaboration in support of Namibia's national development priorities. The Dialogue is an important part of Namibia's broader development coordination architecture. It provides a platform for development partners to align priorities, share information, identify emerging development issues and build common positions. These discussions feed the agenda of the Government led Development Partnership Forum (DPF), where Government, development partners, the private sector, civil society and academia come together to strengthen collective action in support of Namibia's development priorities.

Participants discussed opportunities and challenges across the four pillars of Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan ( ), including economic transformation, human development, environmental sustainability, and effective governance and public service delivery. Discussions also highlighted the importance of stronger institutions, evidence-based policymaking, climate resilience, innovative financing and partnerships that deliver sustainable development results.

Participants agreed to strengthen information sharing, enhance alignment with Government priorities, promote evidence-based decision making, improve coordination among partners, and ensure that today's discussions translate into practical action through the Development Partnership Forum.

03/08/2026

Investing in people is investing in Africa's future.

As Africa advances towards Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthening social protection systems is increasingly recognised as a strategic investment in inclusive growth, resilience and sustainable development.

During the Sixth Ordinary Session of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment (STC-SDLE6), governments, the African Union, the United Nations and social partners reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding social protection, promoting decent work and creating opportunities that leave no one behind.

With Africa expected to account for one in four workers globally by 2050, participants underscored that unlocking the continent's demographic dividend requires sustained investment in people through stronger social protection systems, quality jobs, skills development and human capital.

Moderated by the UN Resident Coordinator for Namibia, Ms. Hopolang Phororo, the Ministerial Panel moved the discussion from policy commitments to practical implementation. Ministers shared national experiences and explored solutions to strengthen domestic financing, expand protection for workers in the informal economy, integrate employment and social protection policies, invest in future skills, and build systems capable of responding to climate shocks, economic uncertainty and technological change.

The discussion reinforced that social protection is more than a safety net. It is a catalyst for reducing poverty and inequality, strengthening resilience, supporting economic transformation and ensuring that the benefits of development reach everyone.

Achieving these ambitions will require sustained political leadership, stronger partnerships and coordinated action across governments, regional institutions, development partners and communities.

31/07/2026

29/07/2026

What does it take to accelerate Namibia's agri-food transformation?

More than a strategy. It requires coordinated partnerships, aligned investments, innovation and technical expertise working together behind national priorities.

The inaugural Development Partners Network meeting on Namibia's Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-food Sector (STAS) highlighted how Government and development partners are strengthening collaboration to accelerate implementation through better coordination, investment alignment and evidence-based planning. Discussions focused on key priorities including climate-resilient agriculture, value addition, market access, innovation and creating greater opportunities for women and young people.

These efforts are helping to build a more resilient, productive and competitive agri-food sector that supports inclusive economic growth, strengthens food systems and improves livelihoods across Namibia.

The United Nations was represented by FAO, UNDP, UNHCR and WFP, reaffirming the UN's commitment to supporting Government-led implementation of Namibia's agri-food transformation agenda.

23/07/2026

Why is implementation now Namibia's biggest development challenge?

Namibia has clear national priorities through the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). The challenge is no longer developing new policies, but ensuring they deliver meaningful results for people.

This was the central focus of the dialogue between the Secretary to Cabinet, Executive Directors and the United Nations Country Team.

The discussion explored what it will take to accelerate implementation of NDP6, Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Participants highlighted that stronger institutional coordination, aligned financing and effective partnerships are critical to translating national priorities into decent jobs, stronger social protection, inclusive economic growth and improved livelihoods.

The dialogue also reinforced that development challenges are interconnected. Creating employment, expanding social protection and advancing economic transformation require coordinated action across government, development partners, the private sector and civil society. No single institution can deliver these outcomes alone.

Within this broader development agenda, the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection was highlighted as a practical mechanism for strengthening coordination, aligning financing and supporting nationally led implementation through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

Ultimately, development will not be measured by the number of policies developed, but by the opportunities created, the lives improved and the progress achieved for all Namibians.