ADDIS ABABA – President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia presented the country’s first progress report on tackling youth unemployment at the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Peer Review Forum of Heads of State and Government. The session brought together leaders from across Africa to review governance, development, and accountability practices.
The report outlines Namibia’s strategies for addressing youth joblessness, including education reforms, expanded technical and vocational training, better coordination of government programmes, stronger local content policies, and agro-value chain development. It also details the creation of the Welwitschia Fund, aimed at ensuring young people benefit from the country’s natural resource revenues.
Between December 2021 and December 2025, Namibia rolled out nationwide internship and apprenticeship programmes, provided financing for youth entrepreneurship, expanded vocational training centres in all regions, and introduced a subsidised tertiary education model to increase access to skills development.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah congratulated incoming Forum Chair President Yoweri Museveni and thanked outgoing Chair President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for his leadership. She encouraged African nations presenting review reports to move beyond commitments to full implementation of national action plans.
She added that partnerships between government, the private sector, and development partners are key to reducing unemployment and equipping young people for evolving job markets. “A continent where young people are uncertain about their future is a continent at risk of failure. Let us not fail Africa. Let us not fail the young people of this beautiful continent. Let us give hope for a bright future to the youth of our continent. As we usually say, the youth is our future.”
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