Namibia, Germany deepen partnership for development

Adolf Kaure

Namibia and Germany agreed to further deepen their long-standing development co-operation in the areas of climate resilience, water security, biodiversity, a just green energy transition and skills transformation.

The two governments reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive development through continued bilateral cooperation during the recent Strategic Dialogue held in Opuwo.

Both sides highlighted their close and trustful bilateral cooperation for more than 35 years since Namibia’s independence in 1990.

Over that period, Germany has been the most important single development partner of Namibia.

“Germany has been one of Namibia’s key development partners over the past 36 years. This successful partnership now enters a new phase,” said Southern Africa head of division for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and head of delegation, Birgit Gerhardus.

Namibia is the largest recipient of German development cooperation in Africa per-capita, which testifies to the significance of the relationship between the two countries.

Examples of past achievements include 283 000 livelihoods being secured across communal conservancies and the expansion and rehabilitation of the Ruacana Hydropower plant with a total capacity of 437 MW.

Furthermore, both countries expressed their high appreciation for the results achieved in six key areas of cooperation. These areas are renewable energy, sustainable urban development, biodiversity, water, technical and vocational education and training, and private sector and financial sector development. The areas contribute directly to the implementation of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), particularly under the pillars of economic growth, transformation and resilience; human development and community resilience; and environmental sustainability.

Both governments agreed to focus the Namibian – German development partnership on two main areas to achieve the greatest impact.

This includes advancing climate-resilient water security, biodiversity and livelihoods as well as harnessing Namibia’s potential for a just green energy and skills transformation.

The cooperation is intended to advance green industrialisation, expanding trade and investment opportunities between Germany and Namibia, creating employment opportunities while protecting the climate and livelihoods.

– akaure@nepc.com.na

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