Africa-Press – Namibia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said over 700 jobs were created during the 2025/26 financial year alone following the launch of the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF), to support youth-owned enterprises.
Nandi-Ndaitwah outlined these achievements when she tabled Namibia’s First Progress Report on the implementation of the National Programme of Action on Youth Unemployment at the African Peer Review Mechanism Forum of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa a week ago.
Namibia’s Head of State said the fund, which was established in 2025, serves to respond to challenges associated with access to business financing for youth enterprises.
“The fund provides loans and grants without the requirement of collateral. The fund, which is capitalised at N$500 million, saw a budget allocation of N$257 million during 2025/26 financial year of which N$52 million was disbursed to 110 projects, creating approximately 700 jobs,” the tabled report reads.
Nandi-Ndaitwah told African leaders last week that although youth unemployment was recorded at 44.4% in 2023, Namibia has moved decisively to confront the crisis through large-scale funding, free tertiary education and structured national internship programmes.
In her address, the President provided updated figures, stating that N$62.3 million has been disbursed to 140 projects, resulting in over 700 jobs created for young Namibians across sectors.
“The National Youth Development Fund provides loans and grants without the requirement of collateral, thereby removing one of the longstanding barriers faced by young entrepreneurs,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
The report describes the fund as a strategic tool to unlock youth potential, stimulate enterprise development and address one of the key recommendations of the Targeted Review — improving access to finance.
To strengthen sustainability, beneficiaries are receiving mentorship through the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).
More than 400 young people have been trained under the 121 Rural Youth Enterprises Project across all 14 regions. Additionally, over 1 500 youth received training through the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
Beyond business financing, government has introduced mandatory internship and apprenticeship programmes under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which runs from 2025 to 2030.
“These programmes require government offices, ministries and agencies, as well as regional councils and local authorities, to employ a minimum of 15 apprenticeship trainees, 25 interns and 25 graduate interns,” the President said.
Interns serve for six months and graduate interns for two years, all receiving a fixed monthly stipend.
The initiative has also been extended to the private sector through the National Internship Programme and Youth Tax Allowance, which provides corporate tax incentives to participating employers.
Education
“We value this partnership between the public and private sectors as a clear demonstration of effective collaboration to reduce youth unemployment in Namibia,” she said.
Education reform is another major pillar of the country’s response. The government has introduced a 100 per cent tuition and registration fee subsidy beginning in 2026 for all undergraduate students pursuing their first qualification at public and private institutions.
The subsidy also applies to trainees pursuing their first trade qualification at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres from NQF Levels 1 to 6.
Namibia already allocates around 8 percent of GDP and 19 percent of total public expenditure to education, reflecting one of the highest investments in education on the continent.
“One of the major contributing factors to high youth unemployment is the misalignment between skills taught in the education system and the needs of the labour market,” the report states. To address this, vocational training centres have been constructed in all 14 regions, positioning TVET as a key pathway to employment.
The report also highlights growth in the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Welwitschia Fund, established in May 2022.
Its portfolio increased from N$262 million to N$479 million by November 2025, nearly doubling in three years. The fund preserves proceed from natural resources for long-term national benefit, including youth-focused development.
International partnerships are also bearing fruit. The report indicated that Namibia’s recognition as a Pathfinder Country under the UN Global Accelerator Programme on Jobs and Social Protection has unlocked US$3.3 million in catalytic funding — US$1.8 million from the United Nations and US$1.5 million from the World Bank.
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