Justicia Shipena
United Nations resident coordinator to Namibia, Hopolang Phororo, says institutionalising employment impact assessments will help policymakers measure how public spending influences job creation.
She said the process will help them prioritise sectors with the highest potential to create jobs.
Phororo was speaking at the awareness-raising event on the employment impact assessment (EmpIA) held at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek on Friday.
The event brought together government officials, development partners, and experts to discuss ways to integrate employment impact studies into national policymaking.
She commended Namibia for taking steps to include employment assessments in planning and budgeting processes.
Phororo said this marks an important move toward ensuring that every policy and investment decision contributes to job creation.
“This approach is not about producing reports but changing how policies and budgets are made. It’s about ensuring that economic growth delivers decent work, social protection and dignity for all Namibians,” she said.
The initiative forms part of the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. It is supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNDP, FAO, UNICEF, and the World Bank. The programme aims to help countries strengthen employment outcomes and promote social justice.
The UN must partner with the government to create an enabling environment where the private sector can thrive and hire,” she said. She added that Namibia’s role as an early pathfinder country under the Global Accelerator shows foresight and leadership.
Minister of justice and labour relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel said the employment impact assessment represents a structured and analytical tool to help policymakers understand the employment implications of their decisions.
“It promotes informed and evidence-based decision-making that ensures our policies are guided by reliable data,” he said.
He added that the assessment will evaluate both the positive and negative effects of policies on employment creation, focusing on inclusivity and equity for youth, women, and people with disabilities.
“Our planning must not only be about the quantity of jobs but also the quality, fair wages, safe working environments, and the protection of industrial rights,” he said.
The ILO Country Office Director, Philile Masuku, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for the initiative.
“We want to make sure that every public investment decision considers employment and contributes to creating more and better jobs, decent jobs that improve people’s lives,” she said.
