The European Union (EU) is investing over €200 million (about N$4.1 billion) in grants to support Namibia’s green industrialization through the Team Europe initiative. This effort focuses on empowering African entrepreneurs, workers and vocational innovators who are leading the change.
At a recent project launch in Windhoek, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Namibia, Ian Dupont, highlighted how this support cuts across sectors like renewable energy, infrastructure and critical skills development creating fertile ground for African-led innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive.
“Most of the investment comes from European companies, and the EU is expected to be the primary offtake market, together with Asia. Team Europe, comprising the EU, its Member States, and development finance institutions, has committed over €200 million in grants to support Namibia’s green industrialisation,” he said.
A key part of the EU’s involvement is a newly launched Technical Assistance Project designed to strengthen the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), ensuring Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes align with the country’s evolving green economy.
This is particularly relevant for the new generation of African entrepreneurs and skilled workers hoping to carve out sustainable futures in energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.
“Our support is comprehensive: from capacity building and financing to infrastructure, CSO engagement, and skills development. We are working together in renewable energy, green industrialisation, and even green maritime corridors,” Dupont said.
The EU’s approach is holistic and people-centred. Its strategy doesn’t just invest in megaprojects it fuels the entrepreneurs who will lead them and the workforce that will sustain them.
With Namibia’s youth unemployment rate at 46.1% and women’s unemployment at 48.5%, there is a clear call for inclusive development.
“We will strengthen the NTA’s coordination role in skills development across the green industrialisation. We want to ensure that resources are used effectively, avoid duplication, and align training programmes with the demands of the labour market,” he said.
For young entrepreneurs seeking opportunities in the emerging green hydrogen sector, the EU’s backing of Namibia’s 2022 Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy provides momentum. The strategy positions Namibia as a future global leader in renewable energy and green manufacturing powered by local talent and ideas.
“Economic growth, job creation, and skills development must go hand in hand. Namibia’s Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy provides a clear national vision. It positions Namibia as a global leader, leveraging its renewable energy potential and strategic location to attract investment, create jobs and boost local manufacturing,” he said.
Evidence of this vision in action is already visible. Through the EU–GIZ co-funded PRo-VET project, vocational training hubs like Nakayale, Eenhana and Valombola have been established providing young Namibians with specialised training in agriculture, construction, and renewable energy.
“A flagship achievement was the creation of the Northern Training Hub, comprising the Nakayale, Eenhana, and Valombola Vocational Training Centres. These centres of excellence offer young Namibians access to skills development, especially in sectors like agriculture, construction, and renewable energy,” Dupont said.
Looking ahead, the EU and its partners plan to launch an Energy Training Hub in southern Namibia, in collaboration with the NTA, local training providers, and private sector players. The aim? To build a pipeline of skilled African talent equipped to lead green industrial projects and ventures.
“We are working with NTA, training providers, and private sector partners to develop a new Energy Training Hub in the South. To unlock the full economic potential of green industrialisation, we need a skilled Namibian workforce. That’s why today matters,” he said.
Underpinning all these efforts is the EU–Namibia Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials and Renewable Hydrogen, launched in 2022. In just under three years, Namibia has drawn over €20 billion in investment interest a testament to the country’s proactive entrepreneurial spirit and strategic planning.
“In less than three years, we have already seen remarkable progress. Namibia successfully positioned itself as a frontrunner in GH2, with several large-scale potential investment projects in the pipeline, representing over €20 billion in projected investment,” Dupont said.
Among the most celebrated milestones is the HyIron Oshivela Project in Arandis the world’s first facility producing direct reduced iron using green hydrogen.
More than 60 Namibian companies were contracted during construction, and over 400 skilled locals were employed, turning an ambitious idea into a global industrial landmark.
“HyIron is the world’s first facility producing direct reduced iron using GH2 and houses southern Africa’s largest electrolyser. More importantly, it hired over 60 Namibian companies during construction and employed 400 Namibian engineers and skilled workers,” Dupont said.
With Phase 2 set to create another 1,000 jobs by 2026 supported by a German steelmaker offtake agreement African entrepreneurs and workers are not just participating in the green transition; they’re leading it.
“HyIron’s next phase will employ even more Namibians. This is how African entrepreneurship and innovation become the drivers of sustainable industrialisation,” he concluded.
