Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Youth enterprise development projects under the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture remain stalled in most parts of the country, more than two years after their launch.
The programme was introduced to help young people start businesses in all 121 constituencies.
Over N$9 million was allocated to the initiative.
Of that amount, N$1 million was set aside for training, while N$8 million was meant to be issued as soft loans through the Development Bank of Namibia.
A recent parliamentary report has highlighted delays and a lack of proper support.
The Ministry confirmed that only 28 constituency-based enterprises have been funded so far, with just two in each region.
The implementing agent, NANTU-Likwafela Cooperative, has spent N$6.2 million to operationalise 18 of these businesses.
Funds for the remaining 10 are expected to be released during the current quarter.
The Ministry said the delays are due to financial constraints, even though the programme aligns with the Harambee Prosperity Plan’s youth economic empowerment goals.
“The Ministry empowers youth through financial access and business training to support entrepreneurship,” it stated.
Since 2006, 12,098 young people have received business management training, and 9,808 have received business loans.
Earlier this year, the National Council Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT, and Youth Development called for a review of all loan disbursements to ensure transparency and the settlement of outstanding payments.
The Committee also raised concerns over limited access to mentorship, insufficient training, and a lack of follow-up support.
The Ministry said it is continuing with training initiatives in areas such as mushroom and charcoal production and basic business education.
So far, 104 youth have been trained in mushroom production in 10 regions.
Training in the remaining four regions is planned for the next financial year.
“In 2025, the Ministry targets to train an additional 1,960 youth in Basic Business Management nationwide,” it said.
Since 2024, charcoal production training has reached 690 youth.
The training includes business and civic education, aimed at supporting self-employment through the forestry value chain.
The Ministry also highlighted ongoing reforms in the school curriculum to include subjects like entrepreneurship, accounting, and business studies, aiming to improve financial literacy.
It is developing a National Human Resources Development Strategy to align youth skills with labour market needs.
It also plans to work with institutions such as UNAM and NUST to improve outcomes for young people.
Despite these efforts, the Committee noted that many recommendations—including digital skills training, monitoring systems, and broader youth participation—remain unfulfilled.
The Ministry has not given a timeline for when all 121 constituency-based enterprises will be fully operational.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the delays show a deeper issue with implementation.
“The delays show that the government is struggling to match its promises with available resources. It suggests gaps in planning, budgeting, or prioritising the youth’s development. Delays risk eroding trust. Young people may feel forgotten or lose hope, especially in rural areas where opportunities are limited,” said Kamwanyah.
He added that the Ministry must secure stable funding and improve its planning.
“Transparency and regular progress updates will also build trust and sustainability,” he said.
