Namibia is taking the lead in combating youth unemployment following its recommendations in the Targeted Review Report on Youth Unemployment and the implementation of its National Programme of Action.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has also urged the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism to embrace tailored African solutions to address the growing crisis of youth unemployment across the continent.

"I will continue to impress upon us to say things as we see them and to put up programmes that we know fit our own situation as an African continent. We are not a developed world; we are a developing country, and we should not subject ourselves to things that do not fit us, but are more designed for those who are more advanced than us. We will reach there. One day we will reach there, but we should not think we have reached there, or then we will end up stagnant, just following the others, trying to catch up but never catching up."

Namibia has now been tasked with spearheading the development of strategies to help African countries tackle unemployment on a continental scale.

This follows the presentation of the first progress report on the implementation of the National Programme of Action under the Targeted Review Report on Youth Unemployment to the African Peer Review Forum of Heads of State and Government in Ethiopia by President Nandi-Ndaitwah.

National Governing Council Chairperson Wilfred Emvula said that although the responsibility is significant, continuous evaluation and monitoring remain central to the President's push for practical and tailored solutions.

"I would say that, well, it puts quite a heavy responsibility on us as a council because now we are not just being driven by our programme that we have set, but we also have to make sure that the address of the president in calling upon us to seriously engage, to be critical, and to make sure that we guide the process. The process of governance encompasses all aspects of life; therefore, we will continue to monitor the implementation closely. We will report back to the stakeholders in terms of the progress that is being made."

With Namibia now leading continental efforts, expectations are high for the APRM National Governing Council's approach and model to ensure sustainability in the fight against unemployment.