GIZ Namibia – Country Presentation

page 1 / x

GIZ Namibia – Country Presentation Overview of Sectors, Objectives and Results achieved

Last update: October 2010

page 2 / x

The GIZ in Namibia GIZ has been working in Namibia since Namibian independence in 1990 and

has an office in Windhoek since 1994.

The office is headed by the country director Friedrich von Kenne

The German Development Cooperation in Namibia concentrates on three focal areas:

Management of Natural Resources

Sustainable Economic Development

Street Transport

as well as the cross cutting project

HIV/Aids Control in Namibia

and the project outside the focal areas:

Archives of Anti-Colonial Resistance and Liberation Struggle

page 3 / x

Framework Conditions: Natural resources such as soil, water, mineral commodities and biodiversity

form the basis for Namibia’s economic development Socio-economic disparities and the fragility of the natural environment require

targeted but sensitive policies and interventions An integrated approach needs to preserve ecologically valuable resources and

secure fair resource distribution while promoting sustainable utilisation

Natural Resources Management Natural Resources Management

Challenges to sustainable natural resources management: Unequal access to and unproductive utilisation of natural resources, including land and water Impact of climate change on the resource-based economy of Namibia Need to enhance political decentralisation to promoting self-administration specifically in rural areas Lack of human capacities on all levels and sectors but specifically on regional, local and communal level

Potentials: Extensive underutilised natural resources including biodiversity potentials (e.g. natural

cosmetics, medical plants), water (irrigation along perennial rivers) and land (in both commercial and communal areas)

Successful implementation and best practices in land reform (45% of 2020 target reached) and rural water supply (81% of rural population with access to drinking water)

page 4 / x

Improvement of legal framework conditions for

secure land use in communal areas and

equitable access to land in commercial areas

Improvement of legal framework conditions for

secure land use in communal areas and

equitable access to land in commercial areas

Support to Land Reform (SLR)

Project title: Support to Land Reform

Project partner: Ministry of Lands and

Resettlement (MLR) Timeframe:

Planned Duration: 01/03 – 09/13 Duration Phase III: 02/10 – 09/13

Contribution to Phase III: € 5,5 Mio.

Contact: Team Leader: Christian Graefen [email protected],[email protected]

Capacity development for key stakeholdersof land reform

Development of strategies and policy recommendations

for land reform

Conceptualization and coordination of a constitutionally

implemented land reform

Project Objectives Project in BriefOverall Objective

page 5 / x

Support to Land Reform (SLR)

A Land Reform Action Plan provides a coherent national strategy for land reform that ensures full transparency of land reform targets and process as well as buy-in from all relevant political stakeholders, the Namibian public and the donor community.

Implementation of land reform is “on target” with a total of 6,7 Mio ha of land redistributed which equals 45% of the 2020 target.

Under the policy leadership of the MLR, Communal Land Boards have been capacitated to competently implement land registration (22,000 titles issued; 10,000 or 45% women as beneficiaries) and resolve land disputes and conflicts (185 out of 188 claims resolved).

Namibian University of Science and Technology (Polytechnic) enabled to build national training capacities through a MSc Program on Land Management (with presently 22 students).

Innovative approaches (as concerted effort of GIZ, KfW, EC) allow for efficient land verification and registration; a mentorship program for post-settlement support (with 37 mentors and 1700 mentees).

Revised national land tax system based on legally confirmed land valuation criteria provides N$ 33 Mio taxes p.a. that are dedicated to land reform / acquisition.

Results: What has been achieved so far

Component 1 Component 2 Component 3

Development of strategies and policy recommendations

for land reform

Capacity development for key stakeholders of land reform

Conceptualization & coordination of a constitutionally

implemented land reform

page 6 / x

Namibian Water Resources Management Project (NWRM)

Project title: Namibian Water Resources Management Project

Complemented by:EC co-funded: Sustainable IWRM in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin

Project partner: Ministry of Agriculture, Water

and Forestry Timeframe:

Planned Duration: 01/99 – 03/12 Duration Phase III: 08/06 –

03/12 Contribution to Phase III:

€ 4,1 Mio (complemented by EC:€ 3,2 Mio).

Contact: Team Leader: Martin Neumann, [email protected]

Project Objectives Project in Brief

Capacity development for national IWRM decision makers and key

stakeholders

Creation of decentralized water user groups and support to

IWRM application

Supporting MAWF in coordinating the

implementation of IWRM

Improvement of the management of the

Namibian Water Resources, on the basis of Integrated Water Resource

Management (IWRM)

Improvement of the management of the

Namibian Water Resources, on the basis of Integrated Water Resource

Management (IWRM)

Overall Objective

page 7 / x

Namibian Water Resources Management Project (NWRM)


Demarcation of Namibia into 12 hydrological basins .

Improved management of the disastrous floods in the densely populated areas of Northern Namibia, through satellite based forecasting and monitoring.

Namibian University of Science and Technology (Polytechnic) enabled to develop curricula for Natural Resources Management master studies.

Component 1

Enhancing the capacities of national IWRM decision makers

and key stakeholders

Eight Basin Management Committees (BMCs) effectively enhance the demand oriented and sustainable water resource management, specifically in the Cuvelai Basin in the north of Namibia.

Model developments in the Kuiseb and the Cuvelai basin promote self- administration and decentralized water resource management in the country.

Component 2

Creation of decentralized water user groups and

support to IWRM application

MAWF adapts organizational structure and water legislation to requirements of IWRM implementation, e.g. Creation of Basin Management Unit at Ministry level and the adequate resourcing of decentralized BMC’s for integrated water resources management.

Both MAWF and regional BMCs plan integrated water management based on scientific data (including BGR exploration of groundwater resources).

Component 3

Supporting MAWF in coordinating the

implementation of IWRM

page 8 / x

Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management (BSLM)

Project title: Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management

Project partner: Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)

Timeframe: Planned Duration: 08/04 – 12/12Duration Phase II: 07/08 – 12/12

Contribution to Phase II: € 3,57 Mio.

Contact: Team Leader: Konrad Uebelhoer, [email protected]

Project Objectives Project in Brief

Strengthen institutional capacity and service delivery of MET

Implementation of EnvironmentalManagement Act

Sustain use of biodiversity through biotrade

and bio-prospecting

Overall Objective

Improved framework for sustainable management

of natural resources through private and public

users

Improved framework for sustainable management

of natural resources through private and public

users

page 9 / x

Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management (BSLM)


Strategic Plan of Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) finalized, which led to improved annual planning, transparency and donor coordination.

New structure for MET’s reorganization and decentralization approved and required budget provided.

The institutional strengthening contributes significantly to increasing efficiency and effectiveness of METs service delivery and therewith to a more sustainable use of natural resources in Namibia.

Component 1

Strengthen institutional capacity and service delivery

of MET

Environmental Management Act (EMA) passed by parliament and gazetted in 2007.

Regulations for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) approved by Attorney General and ready to be gazetted when new structure in place.

The enforcement of the EMA contributes to the reduction of negative environmental impacts and secures the sustainability of new developments.

Component 2

Implementation of Environmental Management Act

Value chains developed and promoted with public and private partners, e.g. opening up new market opportunities for Marula oil value chain (primary beneficiaries: over 5000 women producers in north central Namibia).

Improved framework for regulating access to- and benefit from genetic resources developed and Namibia actively co-facilitated the decision on an International ABS Regime under CBD.

Incentives are created for income diversification through sustainable use of biodiversity.

Component 3

Sustainable use of biodiversity through biotrade &

bio-prospecting

page 10 / x

Framework Conditions: Despite a relatively high GDP per capita of US$ 6,388 (2009), approx. 28%

of Namibia`s inhabitants live below the poverty line. Officially, unemployment stands at over 51%.

Pronounced disparities remain a characteristic feature of the Namibian economy and society. Namibia is amongst the countries with the largest income disparities worldwide (Gini coefficient 2009: 0.6).

Partnership for Economic GrowthPartnership for Economic Growth

Challenges to sustainable and equitable private sector-led growth: Cumbersome administrative procedures and regulations and inequitable land rights allocation Lack of coordination within government and between government and the private sector Weak organisation of private sector Access to financial services Low productivity and skill level, further threatened by HIV/AIDS pandemic Lack of diversification of the economy Small domestic market dominated by South African imports

Potentials:

Improved economic policy, administrative and legal framework conditions on local and national level as well as increased access to finance improves competitiveness of enterprises o a broad base.

page 11 / x

Project title:

Partnership for Economic Growth (PEG)

Project partners: Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) Ministry of Local and Regional

Government, Housing and Rural Development (MLRGHRD)

Ministry of Finance (MoF) National Planning Commission (NPC)

Timeframe: Planned Duration: 04/05 – 12/13 Duration Phase III: 04/11 – 12/13

Contribution Overall: € 10 M Phase III: € 4 M

Contact:

Daniel Bagwitz, [email protected]

Project Objectives

Financial systems development

Enabling environment at local level / Local and regional economic development

Enabling environment at national level

Project in Brief

Improvement of the conditions for

private sector growthand employment

Improvement of the conditions for

private sector growthand employment

Overall Objective

page 12 / x


Component 1

The project has supported the development of a White Paper on Local Economic Development. The White Paper has been adopted by the Namibian cabinet in March 2009.

On the basis of this White Paper, a Local Economic Development Agency (LEDA) has been set up.

The LEDA will, amongst others, build up local capacities in Local Economic Development (LED), establish and operate a competition-based funding system for LED activities and provide practical assistance to the policy making process of the national government in respect of LED.

Public private dialogues have been conducted nationwide in order to identify and prioritize obstacles to business growth.

Component 2

Sub national environment / Local economic

development

With the aid of the project, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, together with other government institutions has con-ducted its first ever National Enterprise Census and is currently supported in analyzing and publishing the data.

Establishing the basic population of businesses in Namibia will allow government to better plan and monitor their policy interventions. Moreover the data will provide valuable information for potential investors.

The component has also supported NCCI and NMA in developing, con-ducting and branding an annual busi-ness and investment climate survey with the first Survey published in 2010.

On the basis of this data, the project now focuses on concrete business environment reforms.

Component 3

Enabling environmenton national level

The project-initiated Microfinance Initiative “Koshi Yomuti” in the northern regions of Namibia provides almost 12500 people – over 90% of them women – with loans to sustain their livelihoods or to engage in small businesses. Their economic activities enable the clients to take care for 8.4 people on average within their households.

With support of the German Financial Cooperation, this pilot project has been transformed into Namibia’s first Microfinance bank - Fides Bank Namibia.

Further, increasing access to responsible financial services, support is given to introduce mobile payment solutions, reduce banking charges and increase financial literacy.

Financial systemsdevelopment

page 13 / x

Framework Conditions: Unbalanced development of the transport infrastructure during colonial rule

and apartheid Access to transport routes and opportunities for participating in social and

economic life are very unevenly distributed While more than 50% of Namibia’s population lives in communal areas in the

northern part of the country, this region has only 10% of the entire road network Especially during the rainy season, access to local markets as well as to

educational, health care and administrative facilities is not ensured

Transport Sector – Strengthening of Institutional Transport Sector – Strengthening of Institutional Development in the Road Sector of NamibiaDevelopment in the Road Sector of Namibia

Challenges to the institutional development in the road sector: Lack of qualified personnel, especially in the public sector organizations Coordination and involvement of various stakeholders in political processes

Potentials:The Namibian Government implemented an exemplary Road Sector Reform containing two elements: Creation of State owned Enterprises (SoE) to ensure sufficient funding through Road User Charges

(through RFA) and to increase the efficiency in managing the Road network (through Roads Authority)

page 14 / x

Project title:

Strengthening of Institutional Development in the Road Sector

Project partners:

Ministry of Works and Transport (MWT)

Timeframe: Planned Duration: 07/04- 06/16 Duration Phase I: 07/04 – 10/11

Contribution to Phase I:

€ 4,0 Mio. Contact:

Prof. Dr. Ing. Heinrich Semar, Team Leader: [email protected]

Project Objectives

Strengthen an enabling environment for the consolidation

of the road sector reform

Enhance the human resource capacities

and human resource development

Project in BriefOverall Objective

The Planning, coordination and financing of the road

sector is in line with economic and

sustainability principles.

The Planning, coordination and financing of the road

sector is in line with economic and

sustainability principles.

page 15 / x


Component 1

Consolidationof the reform

- The Polytechnic of Namibia, the University of Namibia and several German partner-universities entered into a cooperation agreement

- development of an international acknowledged demand oriented curricula in civil engineering geared towards international requirements.

- exchange program with lecturers from Germany helps to relieve personnel shortages at the local Universities and helps training Namibian lecturers to ensure a sustainable improvement the academic staff.

By making the degree program more attractive to prospective students this cooperation contributes to increasing the number of civil engineers.

- Between 2004 and 2010, the number of enrolled civil engineers increased by 70%. 25% are women.

- In 2011, 8 Roads Authority and Ministry employees were enrolled in the newly developed Master courses in a part-time basis

Component 2

Enhance human resource capacities

GIZ and KfW jointly support the consolidation of the reform process in the Ministry and the parastatals in the subsector in order to promote good governance in the subsector by strengthening transparency, planning and monitoring competence.

To support institutional development, GIZ advises the Minister in terms of transport policies, in questions of financing the transport sector and Road Safety.

• Establishment of Road Safety Policy (coordinating Road Safety Efforts)

• Implementation of a performance monitoring system (enables the Ministry to regulate the state-owned enterprises by setting key performance indicators)

• Performance Management System (PMS) is developed to improve supervision of employees and indicate training needs

page 16 / x

Framework Conditions: Namibia is one of the five countries with the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the world.

According to the national Sentinel Survey, the HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women amounted to 18,8% in 2010.

Social inequity, widespread poverty, high mobility, massive disadvantages of the female population, alcohol abuse and multiple concurrent partnerships continue to fuel the epidemic.

The impact of the generalized HIV and AIDS epidemic on the public and private sector accounts for a loss of productivity, an increase in costs as well as a loss of qualified personnel.

Multisectoral HIV/AIDS Control ProjectMultisectoral HIV/AIDS Control Project

Challenges: Inadequate coverage with culturally adapted HIV and AIDS prevention services and deficient access for vulnerable target groupsIneffective communication and coordination between national and regional levels and public and private sector to sustain implementation of prevention activitiesLack of qualified personnel, management and organizational capacities reinforced by a high turn over of staff and senior management

Potentials: Namibia’s National HIV and AIDS Strategy aims at engaging all economic sectors through its multisectoral approach. If supported in establishing workplace programmes and developing a coordinated HIV & AIDS sector response, sector institutions and organizations are enabled to protect their employees and target groups of HIV and AIDS and its impact.If existing decentralized local HIV and AIDS coordination structures are strengthened, the local response to the epidemic becomes more demand-oriented and therefore effective.

page 17 / x

Project title: Multisectoral HIV & AIDS Control Project

Project partner: Ministry of Health and Social

Services (lead executing agency) Partner ministries of German

Development Cooperation, associated state-owned & private sector companies, umbrella and civil society organizations

Timeframe: Planned Duration: 10/05 – 06/14 Duration Phase I: 10/05 – 06/11

Contribution to Phase I: € 5,98 Mio. Contact: Team Leader Carmen

Perez Samaniego, [email protected]

Project Objectives

Internal and external mainstreaming

of HIV and AIDS

Strengthening of local responses to HIV and AIDS in the four north

central regions

Project in Brief

Partners of the priority areas of German

Development Cooperation and the four north central

regions address the causes and effects of HIV and AIDS systematically

and effectively.

Partners of the priority areas of German

Development Cooperation and the four north central

regions address the causes and effects of HIV and AIDS systematically

and effectively.

Project Objectives

page 18 / x

The quality and implementation of the HIV and AIDS plans at regional and constituency level improved. Management capacities and structures are strengthened and a better understanding of roles and responsibilities of the Regional and Constituency AIDS Coordinating was achieved.

Regional and local authorities participate in working groups on the following topics:

1.Strengthening local and regional leadership and ownership

2.HIV and AIDS mainstreaming into development planning

3.Streamlining local and regional coordination structures and mechanisms

The working groups developed guidelines that are in the process of implementation and recommendations that are currently discussed with the competent authorities.


Partner ministries were equipped with a pool of trained peer educators who consult, educate and raise awareness around HIV and AIDS related issues within their organizations.

Trainings with ministerial management led to a better understanding and awareness with regard to the impacts of HIV and AIDS on the employees and sectors.

Impact assessments and baseline studies for sector polices and mainstreaming approaches document these impacts and led ministries to address HIV and AIDS in their strategic and operational plans.

Partner ministries and other sectoral partners established HIV and AIDS workplace programs which successfully address their employees and/or target groups (Namibian National Farmers Union, Namibia Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Walvis Bay Corridor Group and others).

Component 1

Internal and externalmainstreaming

Component 2

Strengthening of local responses to HIV and AIDS in the four north central regions

page 19 / x

Framework Conditions:

After a long liberation struggle Namibia gained independence in 1990. During the occupation period, many historical records were destroyed or transferred abroad .These are now in the archives of former colonial powers, international organisations, countries of exile and centres of international solidarity. Materials and sources relating to the anti-colonial resistance and the liberation struggle are incomplete and have not been systematically and critically examined.

Archives of Anti-Colonial Resistance and Liberation Archives of Anti-Colonial Resistance and Liberation Struggle (AACRLS)Struggle (AACRLS)

Challenges: Records and documents are scattered over many countries, museums and institutions. Research activities into Namibia’s past and information on this subject are laden with prejudices. The history of resistance is in increasing danger of being forgotten. The number of eyewitnesses is decreasing.

There is thus a real danger that adequate documentation of this important period may no longer be possible.

Potentials: Material on anti-colonial resistance and liberation struggle are secured and through research enhanced. Participating and implementing organizations are strengthened in their capacity for collection,

processing and networking. The results of the collection and research efforts are used in education and public relation work.

page 20 / x

Governmental, civil-society institutions and the media promote a differentiated,

decolonized view of Namibia’s history

Governmental, civil-society institutions and the media promote a differentiated,

decolonized view of Namibia’s history

Archives of Anti-Colonial Resistance and Liberation Struggle (AACRLS)

Project title: Archives of Anti-Colonial Resistance and Liberation Struggle

Project partner: Ministry of Education

Timeframe: Duration: 11/01 – 12/10

Contribution€ 1,3 Mio.

Contact: Daniela Schöneburg Schultz, [email protected]

Material on anti-colonial resistance is secured and through research enhanced.

Participating organisations are strengthened in their capacity for collection and processing..

Results in collection and research efforts are used in public education work.

Project Objectives Project in BriefOverall Objective

page 21 / x

Archives of Anti-Colonial Resistance and Liberation Struggle (AACRLS)

Numerous historic material dealing with many topics and historic incidents has been collected in Namibia.

The Swiss-German Chapter of the project does intense research in European Libraries and Institutes in order to repatriate material on the anti-colonial liberation struggle.

Oral researchers recorded numerous Interviews with eyewitnesses of the liberation struggle.

Through the procurement of specialised IT-Equipment, the capacity of the National Archives of Namibia is strengthened and it is enabled to deal with requirements of modern archival system.

Training efforts for national staff improved the critical short staff base of the National Archive.

Bursaries in the fields of history and archiving are given to Namibian students.

Numerous books written by people who were actively involved in the struggle are due for publication.

A webpage: “Namibia – Anti-Colonial Resistance and Liberation Struggle” has been established. http://www.natarch.edu.na/aacrls/index.php

A history conference took place in November 2009 and showcased the achievements of AACRLS and to encourage discussion on the recent history of Namibia.


Component 1 Component 2 Component 3

Material on anti-colonial resistance is secured and through research

enhanced.

Participating organisations are strengthened in their capacity for

collection and processing.

Results in collection and research efforts are used in public education

work.

Documents

GIZ Namibia – Country Presentation