Government is placing innovation at the centre of efforts to strengthen Namibia’s economic growth, improve public sector efficiency and enhance the country’s competitiveness.
Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare told delegates at the first Public Sector Innovation Conference in Windhoek that innovation must be embedded within economic development and governance reform, warning that inefficient systems and administrative delays continue to constrain entrepreneurship and investment.
“Public sector innovation is therefore not separate from economic development; it is central to it. Innovation is central to economic growth and trade efficiency. Administrative delays slow entrepreneurship, fragmented systems discourage investment, and inefficient service delivery erodes public trust,” he said.
The Prime Minister called for stronger collaboration between government, universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, research bodies, the private sector, development partners and civil society to build an effective innovation ecosystem capable of strengthening Namibia’s productive capacity.
He highlighted the critical role of TVET institutions in equipping Namibia’s youthful population with practical, industry-relevant skills required in a modern economy.
“TVETs are central to our innovation agenda. A modern economy requires practical skills. A modern public sector requires technical competencies in digital systems, data management, infrastructure maintenance and service optimisation,” Ngurare said.
According to Ngurare, strengthening TVET pathways will ensure young people acquire both theoretical knowledge and technical skills necessary to support industrialisation and service transformation.
He added that innovation must deliver measurable outcomes, including improved service turnaround times, cost efficiencies, enhanced citizen satisfaction and improved ease of doing business indicators.
“Innovation must produce tangible improvements in service turnaround times, cost efficiencies, citizen satisfaction and ease of doing business indicators. Reform must be evidence-based and results-driven. Innovation without accountability is rhetoric; innovation with measurement is transformation,” he said.
Ngurare further noted that civil society organisations play an important role by providing grassroots insight and strengthening social accountability, while regional and local authorities must be equipped with digital tools and skilled personnel to drive innovation at community level.
He said integrated service delivery models, such as One-Stop Service Centres, can reduce administrative burdens, accelerate business formalisation and improve transparency across public institutions.
“Innovation requires a willingness to challenge outdated processes, to embrace calculated risks, to embrace change, and to invest in long-term institutional capability,” Ngurare said.
The conference brought together public sector leaders, policymakers and development stakeholders to explore how innovation can be leveraged to modernise government systems and support Namibia’s long-term economic development agenda.
