Global Accelerator On Jobs And Social Protection For Just Transitions Namibia Country Highlights 2024-2025

The Global Accelerator initiative in Namibia, funded by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by FAO, the ILO, and the UNDP, has achieved several key outcomes between 2024 and 2025:

• Social Protection & Legislation: Stakeholders held capacity-building workshops on social security standards. A technical working group was established to reform pension systems and align national legislation with international social security standards, specifically Convention No. 102.
• Informal Economy: The government and UN completed a diagnostic study on the informal economy. This provided an evidence base to develop a policy framework and roadmap to facilitate the transition of workers and enterprises from the informal to the formal economy.
• Employment & Skills Development:
  • The initiative supported the design of the third National Employment Policy.
  • Training on Employment Impact Assessments (EmpIA) was conducted to help institutionalize these assessments in policymaking.
  • Using the STED methodology, skills gaps in the energy and green hydrogen sectors were assessed, informing a new energy sector skills strategy.
  • The National Youth Service provided accredited training in biomass harvesting to 295 young people, linking them to labor market opportunities through off-take agreements.
• Partnerships: The initiative is anchored in social dialogue with labor unions and employer bodies. It also leveraged national partnerships with the National Youth Service and the Bank of Namibia, along with private-sector engagement from entities like Ombú Capital and Bellatrix.

Looking ahead to 2026, Namibia plans to launch a US$200,000 Biomass Funding Window for MSMEs, advance the implementation of the national pension scheme, and finalize roadmaps for the green hydrogen project.