The Community Skills Development Foundation (COSDEF) is changing lives across Namibia by providing practical skills to thousands of Namibians, especially in rural and marginalised areas.
Speaking at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair Joram Shifa, communication and stakeholder engagement officer at COSDEF, said the organisation focuses on empowering communities through skills development.
“We offer technical training that responds to the needs of communities and the market,” he said.
The expansion of COSDEF’s SME support centres at various branches also increased the need for full business support services.
COSDEF oversees nine centres across the country and one Art and Craft centre in Ondangwa, Opuwo, Rundu, Swakopmund, Otjiwarongo and more.
Besides the SME support centres, there is also the arts and crafts project, a division that has been operating since 2009 under the COSDEF umbrella.
The arts and crafts centre are situated at Swakopmund and offers a variety of arts and crafts skills’ development programmes.
A well-equipped leather production workshop is accommodated in the same building.
COSDEC offers a wide range of hands-on courses, including pastry baking, plumbing, cabinet making, jewellery design, leather crafting, hairdressing, fashion design, office administration and IT-related training. “Our training helps people to become job creators, not just job seekers,” Shifa explained.
Currently, COSDEF trains over 2 000 students every year through formal courses and outreach programmes.
“We also have the COSDEF Oyetu Outreach Project, where we go into the regions and train people in their own communities,” he added.
After training, COSDEF helps participants market their products through the Art and Craft shop in Swakopmund and even exports some items.
“All the profits go back to the community. This allows them to earn income and improve their livelihoods,” Shifa said.
While COSDEF receives support from government bodies such as the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) and many students get funding through the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), the organisation still faces challenges.
“Training and outreach are expensive. We need more financial support to reach the most remote and underserved communities. We want every citizen to learn how to sustain themselves and contribute to our national development goals,” he said.
Shifa encouraged young Namibians to take the opportunity seriously.
“Our application intake for 2026 is now open. Come and apply. Get the skills you need to build your future and support the country’s industrial growth,” he said.
He praised the Ongwediva Trade Fair for giving platforms to organisations like COSDEF to showcase their work and connect with communities.