National Planning Commission — government body directing green hydrogen and nuclear energy development in Namibia, chairs the Green Industries Council.
National Planning Commissionis tasked toappraise, monitor and evaluate capital and development projects
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“Capelao said under the National Planning Commission Act, the secretariat is tasked to appraise, monitor and evaluate capital and development projects and programmes submitted by offices, ministries and agencies and make recommendations for possible funding to the Ministry of Finance.”
National Planning Commissionmust assess, monitor and evaluatedevelopment projects before recommending them for funding
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“Capelão explained that infrastructure projects fall under the National Planning Commission (NPC), which operates under the National Planning Commission Act of 2013. The law requires the commission to assess, monitor and evaluate development projects submitted by government offices, ministries and agencies before recommending them for funding.”
National Planning Commissionhas failed to anticipategraduate absorption as an urgent economic and social risk
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“A responsive planning institution should have long ago flagged graduate absorption as an urgent economic and social risk requiring coordinated intervention.”
National Planning Commissionstated via executive director thatgreen hydrogen is central to economic change
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“National Planning Commission's executive director I-Ben Natangwe said, from a national planning perspective, green hydrogen is seen as central to economic change.”
National Planning Commissionis partnering withthe Ministry of Finance to coordinate the Sixth National Development Plan
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“The programme forms a cornerstone of broader State efforts to upgrade healthcare delivery under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), coordinated by the Ministry of Finance in partnership with the National Planning Commission.”
National Planning Commissionissued clarification in December 2025 statingno fixed local ownership threshold has been adopted
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“In a bid to steady nerves, Namibia's National Planning Commission (NPC) issued a crucial clarification in December 2025, stating that no fixed local ownership threshold has been adopted.”
The National Planning Commission director general said Namibia is ready to move from planning to implementation of green hydrogen projects, despite the absence of dedicated legislation. The government aims to create 30,000 green jobs by 2030 and position Namibia as a low-carbon industry platform for southern Africa.
Why it matters
Namibia's pursuit of green hydrogen projects positions the country for 30,000 green jobs and industrial leadership in southern Africa.
The National Planning Commission director general said Namibia is ready to move from planning to implementation of green hydrogen projects, despite the absence of dedicated legislation. The government aims to create 30,000 green jobs by 2030 and position Namibia as a low-carbon industry platform for southern Africa.
The finance ministry's executive director clarified that the government does not accept unsolicited funding bids from private entities or agents for infrastructure projects. Instead, all government funding and development projects must follow established procedures under the National Planning Commission Act and State Finance Act.
The Ministry of Finance says infrastructure funding must comply with existing procurement and borrowing laws and cannot be sourced through unsolicited proposals from private entities or their agents, despite acknowledging that such proposals could support national infrastructure development.
Cabinet has officially approved the establishment of the Green Industries Council to guide development of the green industries sector, with a focus on industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation. The Council will be chaired by the Director-General of the National Planning Commission and include ministers from finance, industries, agriculture, environment, trade, urban development, the Attorney-General, and the Bank of Namibia Governor.
The Cabinet has approved a new Green Industries Council, replacing the Green Hydrogen Council after it ended in February 2025. The council will oversee Namibia's broader green industrialisation agenda, focusing on policy coordination, institutional alignment and investment priorities to accelerate industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed all government institutions to budget for internships and apprenticeships to address graduate unemployment. While the directive is practical, the article questions its timing, noting that many institutions have already completed their annual budgeting and planning cycles.
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, partnering with Enertrag and GIZ, will sign a cooperation agreement under the International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme to strengthen Namibian supplier capacity in the green hydrogen sector. The initiative, funded by EUR 300,000 from H2UPPP and EUR 300,000 from Hyphen, will implement an Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme to build capability and competitiveness of Namibian enterprises.
Namibia's government has begun phased implementation of Vision April 2026, an initiative to transform public healthcare by improving accessibility, quality and citizen confidence. The programme, which mandates senior government officials to use public facilities starting April 2024, includes infrastructure upgrades, N$239 million in medical equipment procurement and recruitment of 2,307 health workers, with expansion to additional facilities planned for 2027.
Minister Veikko Nekundi presented the 2026/2027 budget allocation of N$592.972 million for the Department of Works to the National Assembly, with N$499 million for operational costs and N$93.972 million for capital investment. The budget addresses public infrastructure development, government asset management, and maintenance of state facilities across five programmes.
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, Enertrag and GIZ signed an agreement to support Namibian suppliers in the green hydrogen value chain through an Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme. The partnership aims to strengthen local capacity and participation, with over €40 million committed to Namibian projects and focus on building domestic industries, creating jobs, and increasing processed exports rather than raw material exports.
The state-owned Roads Contractor Company has requested a N$500 million loan from the Development Bank of Namibia to build sport stadiums across 14 regions without a public tender process. The project, part of the president's infrastructure pledge to all 121 constituencies, has raised concerns about unclear costs, lack of transparency, and potential involvement of foreign contractors despite a directive limiting subcontracting to local small and medium enterprises.
The Development Bank of Namibia has disbursed N$1 billion towards a national health infrastructure programme, part of the government's "Roadmap" initiative. The funding will support construction of a 500-bed Windhoek District Hospital and district hospitals in Nkurenkuru, Otjiwarongo, and Ondangwa to address bed shortages and improve healthcare access.
The Development Bank of Namibia has allocated N$1 billion for construction of a 500-bed Windhoek District Hospital in Havana to address bed shortages and ease pressure on existing facilities in the Khomas region. The project is part of the government's healthcare infrastructure development plan and is expected to stimulate economic activity through construction and job creation, though land clearing remains pending before work commences.
Namibia's mining competitiveness ranking fell sharply in the 2025 Fraser Institute survey, dropping from 30th to 51st globally and from 4th to 7th in Africa, as investor concerns about policy direction and regulatory clarity intensify. The Chamber of Mines attributes the decline to weakening perceptions of mining policy and governance, citing a proposed 51% local ownership requirement and new legislative changes as compounding investor uncertainty.
Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has inaugurated newly constructed and renovated infrastructure across Etosha, Hardap, and Bwabwata National Parks, valued at N$166 million and co-funded by Germany's development bank. The upgrades include enhanced facilities, staff stations, and utilities designed to strengthen wildlife protection and improve visitor experiences.
The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has warned that the country's mining investment attractiveness has dropped sharply in the 2025 Fraser Institute survey, falling from 30th to 51st place out of jurisdictions ranked, citing policy uncertainty including proposed 51% local ownership requirements and planned legislation on water, environment and minerals as key concerns. The government has since clarified there is no fixed local ownership requirement, aiming to restore investor confidence.
According to the Fraser Institute's 2025 survey, Namibia's mining investment attractiveness index fell from 66 to 56, dropping its global ranking from 30th to 51st place. Industry leaders and analysts attribute the decline to uncertainty over local ownership requirements, delays in policy implementation, and concerns about new regulatory frameworks.
Since independence in 1990, Namibia's Parliament has evolved into a democratically elected body and now has its first female speaker, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, elected in March 2025. However, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah notes that despite its progressive constitutional framework, Parliament has struggled with weak oversight of the executive due to single-party dominance and the executive being drawn directly from Parliament, resulting in limited depth in legislative debate.
The Namibian government has received 148 project proposals for its Green Hydrogen Programme, representing potential investments of around US$1 billion. Of these, 77 projects align closely with the programme's objectives, covering clean energy, industrial development, infrastructure, and climate-smart agriculture, with the initiative aiming to mobilise over US$1 billion in total investment through concessional climate finance and development bank support.
Namibia's environment and tourism ministry will inaugurate new light infrastructure, a solid waste management facility, and Wildlife Protection Service duty stations at Etosha National Park on 28 March. The improvements aim to strengthen ranger patrols against poaching, improve wildlife monitoring, and manage visitor waste to protect animals and the park's natural environment.
The Namibia Statistics Agency board has extended statistician general Alex Shimuafeni's contract from 31 March to 30 September to ensure completion of critical projects and a smooth leadership transition. Deputy statistician general Ottilie Mwazi's contract was also extended from 1 January to 31 March following her reaching retirement age on 31 December.
A 2025 Old Mutual financial monitor report shows that 75% of employed Namibians have adult dependants relying on them for financial support, trapping them in a poverty cycle that prevents savings and wealth accumulation. Economists warn that when one person supports multiple family members, limited income leaves little for daily needs and nothing for long-term investments or generational wealth-building.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for further exploration of alternative housing technologies after inspecting a demonstration house built using Alternative Building Technology (ABT) panels in Okahandja Park. The President directed government officials to explore how the technology could be scaled up to help address Namibia's housing backlog, and commended the Namibian entrepreneurs behind the initiative.
Minister of Finance Ericah Shafudah announced that pensioners will receive an additional N$100 from 1 April 2026, with N$447 million allocated to accommodate the increase. The announcement was made during the presentation of the Budget Statement for the 2026/27 financial year in Parliament.
The Finance Minister tabled the 2026/27 National Budget allocating N$1.9 billion to the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development, with N$744 million for developmental projects. The government reported progress in housing delivery through various programmes and is shifting key strategic projects to State-Owned Enterprises to maximise development funding.
The European Union has donated nine vehicles valued at N$10 million to Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, including eight Land Cruiser bakkies and two mobile veterinary clinics, to strengthen animal health surveillance and disease control in the Northern Communal Areas. The fleet will support efforts to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease, improve traceability, and help farmers meet export standards.
The European Union handed over nine specialised vehicles worth about N$10 million to the Ministry of Agriculture to support livestock value chains in Namibia's northern communal areas, designed for transport across remote terrain and intended to improve farmer market access and reduce transport costs.
A UNCTAD assessment launched by UN Trade and Development Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan in Windhoek estimates that Namibia could unlock over N$14 billion in new economic activity and create around 26,000 jobs by moving beyond raw mineral exports into processing and manufacturing. The report identifies 353 products across 23 sectors that Namibia could realistically develop to add value to its mineral wealth and energy transition mineral resources.
A 2007 petrol-bombing of a magistrate's house in Oshakati was the first in a pattern of intimidation and violence against judicial officers in Namibia. Recent incidents include the death of state prosecutor Justine Shiweda following an October attack, shootings of village headmen over land disputes, and threats against a Grootfontein prosecutor.