Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Environment has officially launched the GEF-UNIDO Namibia Child Project, an initiative aimed at unlocking greater access to international climate finance to strengthen Namibia’s green hydrogen sector.
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which has allocated USD 497,945 for implementation over a five-year period.
“Today marks an important transition: from preparation to implementation, from project design to delivery, and from ambition to coordinated national action. The grant allocated to Namibia under this project is USD 497,945, to be implemented over a 60-month period. Some may look at this amount and compare it with much larger financing windows, such as the Climate Investment Funds, which are important but are largely concessional loan instruments. This GEF grant is different. It is catalytic grant financing, designed to strengthen the foundations that make larger investments possible,” said David Nghimwenavali, Chairperson of the Project Steering Committee and National Project Coordinator.
Photos: Ministry of Environment
The significance of the project was also highlighted by the Executive Director of the Ministry of Environment, Sikongo Haihambo, who said the launch marks an important step in advancing Namibia’s national green hydrogen agenda and strengthening the country’s partnership with the GEF and UNIDO under the Global Clean Hydrogen Programme.
“The launch of the Namibia Child Project is a timely contribution to our national efforts to move from vision to implementation. It strengthens the bridge between Namibia’s green hydrogen ambitions, our national policy priorities and the global environmental objectives supported by the GEF and UNIDO,” Haihambo said.
Haihambo noted that the project is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, improve the policy and regulatory framework, enhance technical preparedness, support greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and facilitate knowledge sharing within Namibia and across the Global Clean Hydrogen Programme.
“It is catalytic in nature: modest in grant size, but significant in its ability to unlock coordination, confidence and long-term transformation,” Haihambo added.
According to Haihambo, Namibia’s pursuit of green hydrogen is firmly anchored in its national development agenda. He pointed to policy frameworks such as Vision 2030, the Green Industrialisation Blueprint and the Namibia Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy, all of which identify green hydrogen as a key driver of economic transformation, industrial diversification, energy security, job creation and climate resilience.
“The Government has already taken important steps to position Namibia in the emerging hydrogen economy, including the establishment of the Green Hydrogen Council (now renamed the Green Industries Council), the launch of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, and the advancement of flagship initiatives that demonstrate the country’s renewable energy potential and industrial ambition,” Haihambo said.
However, Haihambo stressed that achieving these ambitions requires strong institutional and regulatory foundations. He said Namibia must continue strengthening its policy, regulatory, technical, environmental and social frameworks to ensure the sector develops in a structured, predictable, safe and sustainable manner.
“This is where the GEF-UNIDO Namibia Child Project is especially important. As a GEF-8 climate change project, it is aligned with the Global Environment Facility’s mandate to generate global environmental benefits, support climate mitigation, promote innovative low-carbon technologies, and strengthen enabling environments in developing countries,” Haihambo added.
