The International Labour Organization, under the UN Global Accelerator project in Namibia, conducted a three-day technical training on Employment Impact Assessments (EmpIA) in Windhoek to support the institutionalization of EmpIA and strengthen evidence-based planning for job creation. The training targeted government officials and social partners and was delivered under the “UN Joint Programme on Agri-systems Transformation through Biomass Processing for Decent Job Creation,” with additional support from the global project “Delivering on National Commitments: Korea’s Support to the Implementation of the Global Accelerator,” funded by the Republic of Korea.
Employment Impact Assessments are essential tools for evaluating how policies, sectoral interventions, public investments, and projects contribute to job creation and inclusive growth. Integrating EmpIA into national and sectoral development plans, as well as performance evaluation frameworks, ensures that development initiatives align with employment objectives and generate meaningful jobs. The training emphasized the importance of coordinated collaboration among governments, the private sector, academia, and social partners to address employment as a cross-cutting issue.
During the training, participants engaged in discussions to determine the institutional and operational arrangements required to anchor EmpIA within Namibia’s policymaking processes. Consensus emerged around two key recommendations. The first was the establishment of a dedicated EmpIA desk or team within the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations and/or the National Planning Commission to serve as a central hub for coordination, technical expertise, and training support. The second was collaboration with the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management to design specialized training programs and short courses, complemented by ILO technical assistance and international best practices, to strengthen institutional knowledge and capacity on EmpIA.
