UNESCO launches Namibia pilot to boost community tourism
UNESCO, in partnership with Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, has launched a pilot to empower local communities through cultural entrepreneurship in Maltahöhe, Aus and Utuseb. Held from 17–20 November 2025 and funded by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture under the Creating a Sustainable Heritage Ecosystem for the Socio‑economic Development in Africa project, the initiative places women and youth at the centre of efforts to translate heritage into livelihoods and strengthen community‑led tourism.
Community proposals tabled at the launch included storytelling walks, guided tours, desert‑based activities and craft production, informed by a May 2025 needs assessment and a field visit to the Rural Revive model in Maltahöhe. The pilot now moves into implementation, with seed‑funding applications to be issued in the coming weeks, training scheduled for January–February 2026, a mid‑project review in March–April, and consolidation in May 2026 to prepare supported enterprises for long‑term operation.
Source: UNESCO
