UN Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo has emphasised that the issue of youth unemployment in Namibia is a matter of great concern and has the potential to evolve into a significant threat if left unattended.

"We know that it has been an issue for this country for quite some time, but the issue is that from the latest statistics, it is increasing and is becoming an issue of concern because, when you look at it in the context of the Southern Africa region, you see that when young people are restless and unemployed, they can threaten the peace of the country, so it's important to see how we are engaging, and as the UN, we would like to see how we can add value to that work to this challenge that Namibia faces," she said.

Phororo pointed out that for unemployment to be addressed, there is a need to bridge the gap between the job market and skills development.

"In Namibia, like many countries, the focus is often on the skills of young people. There are so many universities that people are going to, but when they come out of there with the qualifications they get to get them employed, there are limitations; they are not all going to be absorbed, and the question is, where do they go? And for the job market to be lucrative, it means the economy must be performing, and we know that the Namibian economy has not been performing well."

Phororo also welcomed Namibia's 2023 Population and Housing Census, saying it will assist them in their work.

"Data is a problem, and the issue is that the UN can bring in other data; we can do that, but the point is that we want a comprehensive picture because the census if the government mobilises the resources and invests in it, will give us a clear picture of what is happening throughout the country; those are the figures we want to work with."

The Resident Coordinator also says the UN's partnership framework is aligned with Namibia's 6th National Development Plan and that the body's partnership framework places an emphasis on economic and social transformation, environmental sustainability, and good governance.