Namibia must turn an African summit into a national opportunity

Namibia will host an important African Union summit at precisely the moment when the continent can no longer afford to treat unemployment, poverty and social protection as separate policy problems. The Sixth Ordinary Session of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment, taking place in Windhoek from 27 to 31 July, brings together ministers, officials, employers, workers, regional bodies and development partners to confront some of Africa’s most stubborn challenges.

The theme, “Investing, Strengthening and Expanding Social Protection Systems in Africa: A Critical Enabler for Inclusion, Resilience and Social Justice”, is appropriately ambitious.

But Namibia must ensure that the summit becomes more than another five-day diplomatic event, followed by a communique that is praised, filed and forgotten.

This is an opportunity to place Namibia at the centre of one of Africa’s most important policy debates. It is also an opportunity to ask an uncomfortable question: if the continent is struggling to create enough jobs for its young and rapidly growing population, what exactly must change in the way African economies are structured?