Hopolang Phororo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Namibia, has reflected on the UN’s role in supporting the country’s ambition to create 500,000 jobs. She emphasized that stronger coordination between partners and programmes, a clearer focus on proven approaches, and improved engagement with small businesses will better equip Namibia’s labour market to generate opportunities and absorb new graduates.
Jobs remain a central issue in Namibia, with youth unemployment at around 44 percent in 2023. The UN, through the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, is working alongside the Government, private sector, and agencies such as FAO, ILO, and UNDP to align employment policies, investments, and implementation. This collaboration aims to connect and expand existing initiatives rather than introduce new ones, ensuring that efforts are more coordinated and impactful.
Recent policy developments, such as the President’s initiative to expand free tertiary education, will increase the number of graduates entering the labour market. While this is a positive investment in human capital, it also highlights the need for job creation to match the growing supply of skilled young people. Without sufficient opportunities, the risk of educated but unemployed youth could undermine progress.
Namibia already has a wide range of initiatives underway, from training and youth empowerment to support for small businesses and industries that absorb large numbers of workers. However, the challenge lies in coordination. Many programmes operate in isolation, limiting their collective impact. The Global Accelerator provides a platform to track results, identify effective interventions, and scale them across the country.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are central to Namibia’s employment story, sustaining livelihoods across the country. Yet many fail to survive beyond their first few years. The Global Accelerator supports MSMEs by improving access to finance, business development services, and stronger links to value chains and labour‑absorbing industries. This approach shifts the focus from simply creating enterprises to building sustainable businesses that generate jobs.
Phororo concluded that Namibia’s employment challenge requires more than individual programmes. It demands stronger coordination, clearer accountability, and a deliberate focus on scaling what works. The ultimate measure of success will not be the number of initiatives, but whether they deliver lasting results for Namibia’s people and economy.
