The 8th Youth Sustainable Development Conference is underway in Windhoek, marking its first time being hosted in Southern Africa.
The event brought together young professionals, youth leaders, policymakers, innovators, investors, and development partners under the theme "powering change".
The conference is hosted by the Youth Sustainable Development Network Africa, a network founded in Nigeria in 2019 and now expanding across the continent.
Its co-founder, Durodoluwa Femi-Ajala, says the initiative was established to equip young people with the right mindset, skills, and knowledge needed to shape Africa's future.
"The reason why we started this conference was to ensure that our youth are equipped with the skills, the mindset and the intelligence they need to move forward."
The Namibia Nature Foundation has urged young people to rethink how they approach sustainable development projects.
Its Communication Officer, Disney Andreas, said that while innovation continues to grow, many youth-led ideas fail to attract funding due to a lack of sustainability and poor alignment with funders.
"A good project does not automatically make you fundable. You can have a fantastic idea, but it does not guarantee funding."
Andreas emphasised that projects must go beyond the idea stage and demonstrate real impact within communities, supported by evidence and realistic plans.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Wenzel Kavaka, highlighted the rapidly evolving African economy, driven by technology and innovation.
Kavaka said platforms such as these are essential in fostering entrepreneurship, which remains key to tackling unemployment and poverty.
"New forms of entrepreneurs are emerging, and the skills required for tomorrow's economy are evolving rapidly. At the centre of it all is Africa's greatest resource: its young people."
Kavaka reaffirmed the government's ambitions in renewable energy, green industrialisation, digital transformation, and innovation.
He added that stakeholders must create opportunities, and young people must also be ready to recognise and seize them.
"Young people need skills, information, networks and finance. No single institution can provide all of these; government, business, and communities all have a role, but young people must also be ready to act."
The conference continues with discussions aimed at empowering youth to become drivers of sustainable development across Africa.