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Namibia is set to broaden the scope of its gender empowerment initiatives, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announcing a concerted effort to increase female participation in the nation’s lucrative mining sector. This commitment follows earlier pledges to bridge the gender gap across agriculture, politics, technology, tourism, and renewable energy.
Speaking at the United States-Africa Business Summit in Angola, President Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted Namibia’s mineral wealth and her administration’s determination to ensure greater female involvement in this key industry. Her remarks were delivered during a panel discussion titled “Women In Leadership: Driving Innovation, Catalyzing Investments and Shaping Policy.”
“Namibia is a mineral-rich economy, and I am working to ensure that we include more women in mining,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah stated.
As Namibia’s first female president, Nandi-Ndaitwah urged governments to bolster public-private partnerships (PPPs) that channel funding towards women-led green and digital enterprises. She also advocated for the establishment of platforms where women investors, policymakers, and innovators can shape trade and investment priorities on an equal footing with men.
“Namibia remains fully committed to this agenda,” she affirmed. “Through our national efforts, and in collaboration with regional and international partners, we will continue to create the space, support systems that allow women to not only rise but to thrive together with their male counterparts.”
The Namibian government has already rolled out special financial instruments through its financial institutions to support women-led businesses. These initiatives have yielded significant results, with nearly 40 percent of small businesses in Namibia now women-owned.
Further demonstrating its commitment to female empowerment in strategic sectors, President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s government has chosen to invest in Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes and the National Women in Innovation Challenge.
Namibia has already made notable strides in female representation within its political landscape. Women currently hold 57 percent of Cabinet positions and 43 percent of seats in the National Assembly. Significantly, both the deputy president and the Speaker of Parliament are also female.
