Green Growth, Skills and Jobs: Namibia and Germany Reset Partnership
By: Anton Wylie Mbinge
Namibia and Germany are repositioning their longstanding development partnership, placing greater emphasis on green growth, climate resilience, skills development, investment and employment.
The new direction emerged from the Namibia-Germany Strategic Dialogue held in Opuwo on 29 and 30 September 2026, where the two governments reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation while narrowing the partnership around areas seen as critical to Namibia’s future economic development.
According to a joint statement issued on Friday, more than €1.6 billion, equivalent to about N$30 billion has been provided in official development assistance since 1990.
Germany describes Namibia as the largest recipient of its development cooperation in Africa on a per-capita basis.
Over the years, the partnership has supported sectors including renewable energy, sustainable urban development, biodiversity, water, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and private and financial-sector development.
The latest strategic dialogue, however, places these areas under two broader priorities: climate-resilient water security, biodiversity and livelihoods, and a just green energy and skills transformation.
The statement highlight that Namiba is seeking to build new industries around renewable energy and green industrialisation while addressing persistent challenges such as unemployment, skills shortages, water insecurity and vulnerability to climate change.
The joint release says the cooperation is intended to support green industrialisation, increase trade and investment between Namibia and Germany, create employment and protect livelihoods and the environment.
