United Nations: United Nations (UN) Acting Resident Coordinator, Samuel Kweku Ocran, has commended Namibia for launching the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector and for signing the country's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact. He said the signing on Wednesday marks an important step in Namibia's commitment to advancing food security, job creation, and poverty eradication as well as resilience building in agriculture. According to Namibia Press Agency, Ocran emphasized the foundational role agriculture plays in Namibia's economy and livelihoods, with approximately 70 percent of Namibians depending on the sector for sustenance, income, and well-being. Beyond its economic contributions, agriculture is pivotal in addressing broader social challenges, including high youth unemployment, rural poverty, food insecurity, and the impacts of climate change. Ocran stated that transforming the agri-food sector is not merely a policy objective; it is a powerful driv er of economic growth and a pathway to enhancing livelihoods, creating jobs, and ensuring a prosperous future for all Namibians. He highlighted that Namibia drafted the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector (STAS), also known as the National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP), with full support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the German Agency for International Cooperation. The STAS positions agriculture as a major catalyst for economic development, specifically targeting youth employment. By creating opportunities across agricultural value chains, the strategy aims to achieve 30 percent youth employment in roles that span production to processing, marketing, and distribution. This focus on youth inclusion not only seeks to address unemployment but also fosters innovation and resilience within the sector, according to Ocran. "By equipping young people with skills and opportunities in agriculture, STAS is to achieve the development of a vibrant agri-food economy that contribu tes to long-term economic stability and growth in Namibia," the UN official remarked.