Positioning Multipliers of Change in Namibia’s Energy Transition
Why Youth Matter
At 44%, Namibia’s youth unemployment rate ranks among the highest in Africa, underscoring the urgent need for opportunities that can unlock the potential of the country’s young generation.
At the same time, the country is positioning itself at the forefront of the global energy transition through its Green Hydrogen Strategy. For this transition to be just and inclusive, young people must not only be beneficiaries but also active participants and multipliers of change.
The Green Hydrogen Youth Ambassadors Programme (GH2 YAP) was conceptualised by Hyphen Hydrogen Energy as a flagship youth mobilisation initiative to ensure that young Namibians are actively included in shaping the country’s green hydrogen future. Hyphen approached Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGHP) to partner in delivering the initiative under the Energy Partnership financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), which now serves as its implementation vehicle.
A needs analysis by GIZ Namibia, through the energy portfolio, led to the identification and delivery of green hydrogen masterclasses. The one-day theoretical modular course was offered to various stakeholder groups in 2024, generating strong demand for more targeted and empowering training formats.
Launched in July 2025, the GH2 YAP aims to train Namibian youth across all 14 regions to serve as informed advocates for the sector. Once trained, ambassadors return to their communities equipped to raise awareness, support mobilisation, and foster inclusive participation in the green hydrogen transition.
The initiative aims to attract two ambassadors per region drawn from each of the 14 regions of Namibia, with preference given to young people between 18 – 35 years in STEM fields such as engineering, natural sciences, and environmental science.
The goal? To empower a network of young change agents who can raise awareness, foster dialogue, and help their peers and communities understand the opportunities and challenges of the green hydrogen sector in Namibia.
Training the Ambassadors
Over five intensive days, the curriculum will cover foundational training on hydrogen and climate change, alongside deeper modules on Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Strategy, the National Industrialisation Roadmap, and the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project, including its socio-economic development framework.
The Hyphen project, the country’s first GH2 public-private-partnership (PPP), is designed to serve as a catalyst for unlocking the immense potential of Namibia’s first green hydrogen valley, namely, the Southern Corridor Development Initiative (SCDI).
The curriculum blends expert lectures with hands-on group work, debates, and presentations, ensuring participants don’t just learn, but actively engage and learn from each other.
One of the YAP participants, Frieda Stephanus from Vaalgras in //Kharas Region, said she was excited to having been selected as one of the green hydrogen youth ambassadors.
“I am an electrical engineering student and I see this as an opportunity to add value to my community in the green energy sector. I am excited to be in this space and as a woman this is going to encourage other young women to take up roles in Namibia’s green hydrogen sector,” she said.
Another aspiring youth green hydrogen ambassador, Benediktus Twewaadha from Epembe in Ohangwena Region, said it has always been his passion to work with communities on raising awareness about the green hydrogen initiative and to help people understand what green hydrogen is.
“As a graduate of integrated environmental sciences and a forestry technician, I have a passion to participate in climate change mitigation and afforestation campaigns. Green hydrogen is a game changer for our country, especially for the youth because it does not only enable a shift to cleaner energy, but also helps with skills development and innovation. It will also help with job creation and encourage entrepreneurship,” said Benediktus.
Beyond the Training
After the course, ambassadors return home to lead outreach activities such as participating in peer learning sessions and community events, raising awareness about energy transition opportunities and bringing local concerns and opportunities into national dialogue. While initially mobilised to support Hyphen’s community engagement work, there is growing potential for other project developers across the country, as well as the NGH2P, to engage these trained ambassadors in their own stakeholder processes – unlocking a shared national resource that strengthens inclusive participation and supports alignment across Namibia’s broader green hydrogen ecosystem.
Through initiatives such as the YAP, youth become the bridge between project development and everyday community realities.
As Namibia advances with projects like Hyphen in the SCDI, civil society and youth engagement will remain critical. The Youth Ambassadors Programme is designed not only to empower individuals but to build a network of change agents who will drive Namibia’s green industrialisation in a way that is just, inclusive, and sustainable.
