Sostenus Wilherm
The country has taken another step towards building its green hydrogen economy. The local government and its international partners insisted that the country’s transition to a low-carbon future must create opportunities for women, young people and local communities rather than simply attract foreign investment.
The message emerged on Wednesday during the public launch of the GEF-UNIDO Namibia Child Project in Windhoek, where government officials, the United Nations and development partners stressed that Namibia’s green hydrogen ambitions will only succeed if ordinary citizens are equipped to participate in the emerging industry.
Sikongo Haihambo, Executive Director in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and GEF Operational Focal Point, said Namibia’s green hydrogen strategy is firmly anchored in the country’s development agenda, including Vision 2030, the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), the Green Industrialisation Blueprint and the Namibia Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy.
The project, funded under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), aims to strengthen Namibia’s policy framework, institutional capacity, technical readiness and environmental safeguards as the country positions itself as a future producer of green hydrogen.
Haihambo said while significant progress has already been made through the establishment of the Green Industries Council, the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme and several flagship initiatives, ambition alone will not guarantee success.
He stressed that Namibia must strengthen its regulatory systems, technical expertise and institutional capacity to ensure the sector develops in a structured, predictable and sustainable manner.
The project is expected to improve policy coordination, build technical capacity, strengthen environmental management and support knowledge sharing, while helping Namibia reduce greenhouse gas emissions and attract responsible investment.
Haihambo described the initiative as an important bridge between Namibia’s green hydrogen ambitions and practical implementation.
He further emphasised that the project is not only about accessing international climate finance but ensuring Namibia’s industrialisation contributes to global climate goals while creating local economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, United Nations Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo said the country’s green hydrogen transition should ultimately be measured by its impact on people rather than technology.
“Green hydrogen is not ultimately about hydrogen. It is about people. It is about whether climate ambition translates into jobs. It is about whether industrialisation translates into opportunity. It is about whether economic growth translates into dignity and inclusion,” she said.
Phororo said women and young people must not merely participate in discussions after decisions have already been taken but should instead help shape the country’s green industrial future from the outset.
She challenged stakeholders to begin inspiring children long before they enter universities or vocational training institutions.
“Perhaps we should be speaking not only about skills development, but also about aspiration development. Because before a young person acquires a skill, they first need a vision of what is possible,” Phororo said.
She urged policymakers to expose schoolchildren to renewable energy, climate technology and green industrialisation from an early age, arguing that today’s learners will become tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and policymakers.
Phororo also warned that a just energy transition must avoid creating new inequalities by ensuring rural communities, women, unemployed youth, persons with disabilities and communities located near project sites have meaningful opportunities to benefit.
Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) Chief Executive Officer Benedict Libanda said the fund, as the national executing agency, will oversee project implementation, financial management, reporting and coordination among stakeholders.
He said the EIF will work closely with UNIDO, government institutions and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme to ensure project resources are managed transparently and deliver measurable results aligned with Namibia’s climate and industrialisation priorities.
The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme also pledged to ensure the initiative remains aligned with national development strategies while supporting policy development, stakeholder engagement, pilot projects and investment readiness.
