Chamwe Kaira
The government has welcomed the approval of its Country Strategy Paper for the period 2025 to 2030 by the board of directors of the African Development Bank Group, which opens an investment approval window of US$1.78 billion (approximately N$33.8 billion) for Namibia.
The country strategy paper sets out Namibia’s five-year framework of engagement with the AfDB.
It outlines priority areas to support the national development agenda through grants, concessional and market-based loans and technical assistance.
Under the framework, Namibia will submit priority projects for financing over the five-year period.
The strategy is built around two main pillars: infrastructure development and human capital development.
Planned investments in transport, energy and water infrastructure aim to reduce business costs, improve productivity and strengthen Namibia’s role as a regional logistics hub.
“These interventions are also expected to support trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, expand renewable energy capacity to enhance energy security, and improve access to clean water and sanitation in rural areas,” the Ministry of Finance said.
On human capital development, the strategy focuses on strengthening technical and vocational education aligned with labour market needs, improving the transition from education to employment, supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and advancing women’s economic empowerment.
Beyond setting strategic priorities, the country strategy paper also serves as a financing instrument. It provides access to US$1.78 billion in AfDB resources, including concessional financing, grants and technical assistance.
The strategy places strong emphasis on MSMEs, identifying them as key drivers of inclusive economic growth.
Planned measures include dedicated financing windows such as tailored credit facilities and guarantee schemes, capacity-building programmes to improve productivity and technology use, and initiatives to integrate MSMEs into regional value chains.
Special programmes will target women-owned and youth-led enterprises.
The Ministry of Finance and the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) are expected to announce details on application processes and eligibility as implementation begins.
According to the Ministry of Finance, implementation of the strategy is expected to support economic diversification beyond mining and agriculture, strengthen manufacturing capacity, integrate MSMEs into regional markets and create thousands of jobs.
Infrastructure investments are projected to raise electricity access from 59.5% towards universal coverage, improve trade links with Angola and Zambia and reduce logistics costs.
The new strategy builds on the AfDB’s existing portfolio in Namibia, which totals US$658.1 million in investments over the past decade.
This includes projects such as the expansion of the port of Walvis Bay, railway upgrades and education infrastructure across all 14 regions.
The government said it will work closely with the AfDB and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation.
The strategy aligns with Vision 2030, the AfDB’s strategic priorities, the Integrated National Financing Framework and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
The first projects under the strategy are expected to begin in early 2026.
Caption
The government has welcomed the approval of the US$1.78 billion AfDB funding.
- Photo: Contributed
