||Kharas Governor Dawid Gertze says the Namibia Climate Fund investment plan is key to turning green hydrogen plans into concrete projects that will involve and benefit local communities.

He made the remarks during a stakeholders consultation hosted by the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme at Lüderitz yesterday (Mon).

The one-day workshop will gather input on Namibia's 2026 Climate Investment Fund Plan submission, which aims to unlock up to $250 million in concessional funding to support the country's green hydrogen ambitions.

"We do not want development that arrives in the region as a finished idea with communities only informed at the end. We want development that listens. We want development that consults. We want development that respects both national ambition and local realities. We want development that protects the environment, respects cultural heritage, creates opportunities for local people and leaves behind lasting value in the region."

With support from the Namibian government and partners, including the German government, investments are already being made to train and upskill young Namibians for this sector.

"We must continue to build local skills, technical readiness and practical pathways into employment so that this new industry is not observed from a distance by our youth but entered by them with confidence and competence," added Gertze. 

||Kharas Regional Council Chairperson Gerrit Witbooi said the aim of the engagement is to ensure that unemployed youths in the region benefit from upcoming green hydrogen development projects.

"It is particularly important for towns such as Lüderitz, Aus and surrounding communities, where unemployment among young people remains a serious concern. As regional leadership, we want development to translate into tangible opportunities – jobs, skills development, enterprise creation and visible improvement in the livelihoods of our people."