GIZ Namibia

24/07/2026

Connecting Youth with Opportunity at the 2026 Lüderitz Career Fair ✨

The Lüderitz Town Council, with support from the GIZ Integrated Urban Development in Lüderitz and Aus (ILA) Project, hosted the 2026 Annual Career Fair under the theme “Shaping Futures, Inspiring Careers”.

Held from 21 - 25 July 2026 at the Lüderitz Old Power Station, the career fair brought together exhibitors from a wide range of institutions, alongside live demonstrations by NUST and daily panel discussions featuring industry experts. The event welcomed learners, graduates, job seekers, and members of the wider Lüderitz community, providing valuable opportunities to explore education pathways, career options, and emerging industries.

Officially opening the event on 21 July, Her Worship Hon. Cllr. Brigette Ingrid Fredericks, Mayor of Lüderitz, highlighted that successful careers are built through knowledge, determination, opportunity, and informed decision-making. She noted that the career fair creates an important platform where education, industry, government, and the community come together to inspire and equip young people to make confident choices about their future.

Through its just transition component, the GIZ Integrated Urban Development in Lüderitz and Aus (ILA) project supports initiatives that expand access to knowledge, education, skills development, and economic opportunities for marginalised communities, with a particular focus on youth and women.

14/07/2026

Safer Communities Through Municipal Cooperation in Lüderitz and Aus 🏡
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On 30 June and 1 July 2026, GIZ-ILA hosted validation workshops in Lüderitz and Aus to review the findings of the Vulnerability Mapping and Safety and Security Strategies. The workshops brought together local stakeholders, including the Law Enforcement Agency, Lüderitz Town Council, Aus Settlement Committee, Safety and Security Forums, civil society, the private sector, and community members.

The workshops also provided an opportunity to learn from the Stellenbosch Municipality in South Africa. During his exchange visit, Mr. Charl Kitching, Senior Manager for Protection Services, shared practical experiences on improving urban safety and strengthening collaboration between municipalities, law enforcement, and communities.

Mr. Kitching also met with the Lüderitz Safety and Security Forum and Acting CEO of the Lüderitz Town Council, Mr. Otto Shipanga, to discuss local priorities and opportunities for continued collaboration.

This partnership will help strengthen the Lüderitz Town Council’s efforts to improve urban safety, build stronger partnerships among local stakeholders, and enhance the town’s capacity to respond to current and future safety challenges.

06/07/2026

Namibia undertakes a Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Study Tour to Kenya

A multi-institutional delegation under the lead of Ministry of Finance-Namibia , has commenced a benchmarking study tour to Kenya aimed at strengthening its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) capacities through knowledge exchange and peer learning.

The study tour is designed to equip public institutions with practical knowledge, strategic insights, and firsthand experience on effective PPP legal and regulatory frameworks, project development, and implementation.

Led by Mrs. Hileni Stefanus, Acting Director of the PPP unit and Deputy Director for PPP Capacity Building and Outreach, the delegation is engaging with Public Private Partnerships Directorate in Kenya to gain deeper insights into Kenya's PPP framework, learn from its achievements and implementation experiences, and explore best practices that can support Namibia's development ambitions as contained in the National Development Plan 6 (NDP 6).

The visit is supported by the GIZ Sustainable Development Goals Initiative (SDG-I) project, a joint technical cooperation project of the Namibian and German Governments, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This study tour underscores the strategic role of development partners in creating sustainable partnerships and the value of regional collaboration and knowledge sharing in advancing sustainable infrastructure investment and delivering impactful public infrastructure through effective partnerships.

01/07/2026

🌊 Strengthening Collaboration for Namibia's Marine Future

A new chapter in Namibia's Marine Spatial Planning journey is underway.

On 26 June 2026, newly appointed and returning members of the Marine Spatial Planning National Working Group (MSP-NWG) gathered in Windhoek for their inaugural meeting. The session welcomed new representatives and reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing the sustainable management of Namibia's marine space.

Following the successful conclusion of the MARISMA Project in 2024 and the launch of the Blue Benguela Current Action Project in 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) invited key sectors to reconfirm and nominate representatives to the Working Group, ensuring broad stakeholder participation in this important national initiative.

Officially opening the meeting on behalf of the Executive Director of MAFWLR, Mr. Beau Tjizoo emphasized the vital role of collaboration, active participation, and shared commitment in driving effective Marine Spatial Planning for Namibia.

Together, we are building a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for Namibia's ocean and coastal resources. 🌍💙

Global Gateway

24/06/2026

Call for Visual Artists!

Are you an artist inspired by nature, culture, and the knowledge traditions of our communities?

As part of the launch of Namibia's National Outlook on Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity, we invite visual artists to apply for exhibition space at the event taking place on 9 July 2026 at the FNCC.

This is a unique opportunity to showcase original artworks that celebrate biodiversity, Indigenous and Local Knowledge, cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and the deep connections between people and nature.

Selected artists will have the opportunity to engage with a diverse audience of policymakers, development partners, researchers, community representatives, youth, and members of the public while contributing to an important national dialogue on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

12/06/2026

On 10 June 2026, the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ProSME) Project officially launched the SME Fund, marking an important milestone for SME development in Namibia.

Implemented through a partnership between the National Planning Commission (NPC), the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the SME Fund aims to strengthen access to finance and support the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Through grants ranging from N$50,000 to N$100,000, the Fund will assist eligible businesses to scale their operations, enhance competitiveness, access new market opportunities, and contribute to job creation and economic development.

The SME Fund forms part of a broader effort to strengthen Namibia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, support services, and opportunities they need to grow sustainable and resilient businesses.

By investing in MSMEs, we are investing in innovation, employment, and inclusive economic growth for Namibia.

Applications are open to all sectors, with high priority given to youth-led and women-led enterprises, as well as businesses demonstrating innovation, sustainability, and job creation.

Interested applicants can apply online at http://smefund.nipdb.com/ between 10 June and 24 July 2026.

For enquiries, contact [email protected].

10/06/2026

Namibia Launches SME Fund to Accelerate MSME Growth and Competitiveness

Namibian MSMEs can now access targeted funding and integrated business support through the newly launched SME Fund, implemented by the National Planning Commission (NPC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).

Under the ProSME Project, eligible enterprises may apply for grants ranging from N$50,000 to N$100,000 to scale operations, enhance competitiveness and unlock new market opportunities in priority sectors, with applications open until 24 July 2026.

Learn more and apply: https://smefund.nipdb.com

Namibia Launches SME Fund to Accelerate MSME Growth and Competitiveness

Namibian MSMEs can now access targeted funding and integrated business support through the newly launched SME Fund, implemented by the National Planning Commission (NPC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).

Under the ProSME Project, eligible enterprises may apply for grants ranging from N$50,000 to N$100,000 to scale operations, enhance competitiveness and unlock new market opportunities in priority sectors, with applications open until 24 July 2026.

Learn more and apply: https://smefund.nipdb.com | Stay informed via our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vajmpk7LY6d2mCQNN531

02/06/2026

TENDER ALERT !

Namibia’s green hydrogen future will only be as strong as the local businesses that power it. 🇳🇦⚡

Through a partnership between GIZ Namibia and Hyphen, we are inviting experienced firms or consortia to help shape an Enterprise & Supplier Development Programme that will unlock meaningful opportunities for Namibian enterprises in the green hydrogen value chain.

This is an opportunity to contribute to building local capacity, strengthening supply chains, and advancing inclusive industrialisation.

📌 See the tender advert below for details.

https://www.giz.de/en/regions/africa/southern-african-development-community-sadc-and-botswana/tenders

27/05/2026

The Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development (ISUD II) project was pleased to participate in the Bank of Namibia Research Seminar on “Housing in Namibia: Tracking Progress, Uncovering Gaps, and Identifying Scalable Solutions.”

The seminar brought together stakeholders from central and local government, financial institutions, housing sector agencies, researchers, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to engage on Namibia’s housing and land challenges.

During the seminar, ISUD II contributed to the discussions through a presentation on housing barriers and enablers, highlighting opportunities for more inclusive and sustainable housing solutions in Namibia. GIZ also participated in the panel discussion on addressing housing and land constraints alongside key public and private sector stakeholders.

A key message from ISUD II was that scaling up land and housing requires integrated planning, reliable funding, and housing opportunities that enable communities to build their own homes on their own terms.

We thank the Bank of Namibia for creating this valuable platform for dialogue and collaboration on one of Namibia’s most pressing development challenges.

21/05/2026

Preparation Labs for the National Urban Dialogue 2026 took place on 11–12 May in Windhoek under the theme of urban economics, bringing together stakeholders from government, local authorities, civil society, academia, and development partners.

Hosted by the Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development (ISUD) project, the labs created a platform for dialogue and exchange around the opportunities and challenges shaping Namibia’s towns and cities. Discussions focused on inclusive economic development, land-based finance, bottom-up economies, and mobility in urban areas.

The Preparation Labs also helped lay the foundation for the upcoming National Urban Dialogue 2026 by encouraging shared learning and cross-sector collaboration.

Together, participants contributed towards shaping more resilient, inclusive, and productive urban communities across Namibia.

Photos taken by Althuis