Namibia and Germany have agreed to deepen their longstanding development partnership, focusing on climate resilience, a just green energy transition and skills development. The agreement was reached during the Namibia-Germany Strategic Dialogue held in Opuwo from 29 to 30 September, where both governments reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.
The two countries highlighted more than 35 years of cooperation since Namibia’s independence in 1990, with Germany having provided more than €1.6 billion (about N$30 billion) in official development assistance. Germany remains Namibia’s largest single development partner, while Namibia is the largest recipient of German development cooperation in Africa on a per-capita basis.
Future cooperation will focus on two main areas: advancing climate-resilient water security, biodiversity and livelihoods, and harnessing Namibia’s potential for a just green energy and skills transformation. The partnership is expected to support green industrialisation, expand trade and investment opportunities, create employment and strengthen climate adaptation, particularly in rural communities.
Namibia and Germany will also continue strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to prepare Namibians, especially young people and women, for opportunities in the emerging green economy. The cooperation supports key priorities under Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), including economic growth and resilience, human development, community resilience and environmental sustainability.
In 2025, Germany committed €43.8 million (approximately N$822 million) to projects covering sustainable urban development, vocational training, green energy and sustainable natural resource management. More than 50 projects are currently being implemented through KfW Development Bank, GIZ and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), with both governments also expressing interest in exploring innovative financing mechanisms for future development cooperation.
