The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) recently held an event at the Zambezi Regional Council to discuss the findings of a country review report focusing on youth unemployment in Namibia. 

This issue was highlighted in a targeted report released in November 2021, which identified challenges such as a skills gap, lack of work experience, and insufficient career guidance. While the overall youth unemployment has decreased from 46% in 2018 to 44.4% in 2023, female youth unemployment remains a serious concern.

To further address these issues, the APRM proposed several recommendations, including the creation of a Youth Programme Coordination and Implementation body to consolidate funding from various ministries and strengthen technical and vocational education (TVET) by establishing more training institutions.

During the engagement, youth attendees raised concerns about gaining the necessary work experience for job vacancies. In response, Ambassador Lineekela Mboti mentioned government initiatives to facilitate apprenticeships and internships starting in the 2025/26 financial year. 

Naita Hishoono, from the national governing council, emphasised the importance of youth becoming more employable through additional skills, such as obtaining an MBA or learning a new language.

The report also provided an overview of Namibia’s performance across four thematic areas: Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance, and Broad-Based Socio-Economic Development. It also suggested a targeted review of decentralisation due to concerns about its slow implementation linked to inadequate resources.