Labour assessment identifies economic growth sectors

A report which identifies economic growth sectors as well as occupational and entrepreneurship opportunities for adolescent girls and young women in Namibia has been launched by the United States government-funded Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programme and the youth ministry. According to a statement issued by the US embassy in Namibia, the labour market assessment report is critical to chart an economic pathway for young women. It identifies seven economic growth sectors in the districts where DREAMS is implemented, including wholesale and retail trade, artisanal sectors, information technology and hospitality. The report also pointed out specific occupations within each sector as potential employment and self-employment avenues for young women. DREAMS is funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the aim to keep young women HIV-free and empower them socially as well as economically.“Economic disparity related to gender inequality is an ongoing and complex driver of HIV. Implementing robust and evidence-based economic strengthening interventions is a priority for DREAMS in order to strengthen young women’s self-efficacy and decision-making power in relationships and to decrease their reliance on transactional sex,” said Dr McDonald Homer, USAID country representative.“This labour market assessment report contributes positively to meeting the economic and development needs of young women.”InterventionsAccording to the 2018 labour force survey, Namibia’s unemployment rate stood at 33.4%, with a youth unemployment rate of 46.1%. An average of 43% young men are unemployed, while 48.5% young women are unemployed.Guided by the assessment, the DREAMS programme offers financial literacy education, skills, vocational and entrepreneurship training, linkages to internships and employment as well asbusiness starter kits for women entrepreneurs.These interventions are now additionally informed by the labour market assessment.Since 2021, the DREAMS programme has supported over 560 adolescent girls and young women to complete vocational training, linked 245 of them to internships and wage employment, and provided 148 with entrepreneurial starter kits.

Labour assessment identifies economic growth sectors

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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Labour assessment identifies economic growth sectors

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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