President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has tasked the newly inaugurated third National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) with upholding the highest standards of professionalism and accountability in carrying out its mandate.

She said the Council is expected to undertake Namibia’s Second Generation Country Review Report and develop its National Programme of Action.

The National Programme of Action addresses governance challenges identified in the review process and assigns responsibility for implementation to public and private institutions, including government, the private sector and civil society.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the National Governing Council is important in supporting the 8th Administration’s seven key priority areas and helping to identify critical governance reforms aimed at accelerating national development.

Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah presented Namibia’s first Progress Report on the implementation of the National Programme of Action of the Targeted Review Report on Youth Unemployment during the 35th African Peer Review Forum of Heads of State and Government in Ethiopia in February this year.

“Some of the achievements in this report include the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the implementation of the National Youth Development Fund, the introduction of subsidised tertiary education, and the implementation of Youth Apprenticeship Programmes,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The APRM National Governing Council will serve for a period of four years, with Ambassador Wilfred Emvula and Dr Roseta !Nawases serving as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson respectively.

Namibia acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism in 2017.