A continent where young people are uncertain about their future is a continent at risk of failure.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah issued this warning to fellow African leaders during the 35th Session of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Forum of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered a statement on the first progress report on the implementation of the National Programme of Action arising from the targeted review report on youth unemployment in Namibia.
The report covers the period from 1 December 2021 to 31 December 2025 and was submitted in accordance with the APRM Base Document.
The Base Document obliges participating member states to share best practices for good governance through the submission of progress reports.
In Namibia’s case, the report attributes high youth unemployment to a misalignment between the skills taught in the educational and training systems and the needs of the labour market.
A second contributing factor is limited opportunities in the formal sector, which lead to both unemployment and underemployment among young people.
The report outlines several recommendations to address the situation, including reforming the education system with a strong emphasis on early childhood development and entrepreneurship, as well as strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government is responding to the recommendations through the implementation of various initiatives.
She said one such initiative is the apprenticeship, internship and graduate internship programmes, which 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 for periods of six months and two years, respectively.
“The Internship Programme has now been extended to the private sector under the National Internship Programme and Youth Tax Allowance. It provides school-leavers, Technical and Vocational Education and Training graduates, and university graduates with valuable on-the-job training and practical experience. Participating employers benefit from reduced corporate tax obligations,” she said.