Staff Writer
Germany will provide Namibia with €43.8 million (about N$876 million) for new projects in green energy, vocational training, sustainable urban development and natural resource management.
The support was confirmed during intergovernmental negotiations between the two governments held on Thursday in Lüderitz.
The funds will assist Namibia in meeting targets under the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
Namibia aims to raise electricity access from about 59% today to 70% by 2030 and reach universal access by 2040.
Germany will support efforts to expand affordable, reliable and clean energy.
This includes improving planning and strategy, strengthening infrastructure for decentralised energy systems and developing value chains for raw materials needed for the green energy transition.
Germany will also continue its support for technical and vocational education and training.
The focus remains on improving quality, strengthening links to the labour market, and creating opportunities for youth and marginalised groups in sectors tied to green energy.
“Cooperation in the TVET sector is aligned with Namibia’s reform agenda under the TVET Policy (2021). To achieve this goal, we build on the significant work on governance reforms, work-integrated learning and training for trainers that has already been completed,” said the German Embassy in Namibia.
Germany will also continue its support for natural resource management in national parks and community conservancies, as well as for sustainable urban development in informal settlements.
This year marks 35 years of Namibian-German development cooperation.
Since 1990, Germany has provided more than 1.6 billion euros (about N$32 billion) in financial and technical support.
The current portfolio includes around 60 projects implemented by KfW Development Bank, GIZ and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources.
The funds include both grants and preferential loans.
