“Germany has been one of Namibia’s key development partners over the past 36 years. This successful partnership now enters into a new phase”

Namibia and Germany agreed to further deepen their long-standing development cooperation in the areas of climate resilience, water security, biodiversity, a just green energy transition and skills transformation. At the Strategic Dialogue held in Opuwo on 29-30 September 2026, the two governments reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive development through continued bilateral cooperation.

Both sides highlighted their close and trustful bilateral cooperation for more than 35 years since Namibia’s independence in 1990. Over that period, Germany has been the most important single development partner of Namibia. Namibia is the largest recipient of German development cooperation in Africa per-capita, which testifies to the significance of the relationship between the two countries.

Examples of past achievements include 283,000 livelihoods being secured across communal conservancies and the expansion and rehabilitation of the Ruacana Hydropower plant with a total capacity of 437 MW.

Further both sides expressed their high appreciation for the results achieved in six key areas of cooperation, namely Renewable Energy, Sustainable Urban Development, Biodiversity, Water, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and Private Sector & Financial Sector Development. These areas contribute directly to the implementation of NDP6, particularly under the pillars of Economic Growth, Transformation and Resilience; Human Development and Community Resilience; and Environmental Sustainability.

In order to achieve the greatest impact, both governments agreed to focus the Namibian-German development partnership on two main areas: (1) Advancing Climate‑Resilient Water Security, Biodiversity and Livelihoods and (2) Harnessing Namibia’s Potential for a Just Green Energy and Skills Transformation. This cooperation is intended to advance green industrialisation, expanding trade and investment opportunities between Germany and Namibia, creating employment opportunities while protecting the climate and livelihoods.

Both sides also agreed to explore options to support the country’s preparedness to mitigate the effects of El Nino within the framework of the existing cooperation.

Building on ongoing cooperation, Namibia and Germany aim to continue strengthening climate‑resilient access to safe water and the sustainable management and conservation of Namibia’s unique biodiversity. Interventions will address climate change adaptation as one of the country’s most pressing challenges in order to safeguard and improve livelihoods and ecosystems, particularly in rural communities.

Further, Namibia and Germany agreed to harness Namibia’s potential for socio‑economic and ecological transformation through a just green energy transition. The two governments also agreed to continue strengthening labour‑market‑oriented technical and vocational education and training (TVET), to enable more women and men, particularly the youth, to access decent employment opportunities in Namibia’s emerging green economy.

In 2025, Germany committed a total of 43.8 million Euros (approximately 822 million NAD) for projects in sustainable urban development, vocational training, green and sustainable energy, and sustainable natural resource management. The current portfolio comprises more than 50 projects that are implemented by KfW Development Bank, GIZ, and BGR (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources). The funds are a mix of grants and concessional loans. Looking ahead, both governments expressed interest in exploring innovative development financing instruments.