Allexer Namundjembo
Environmental protection and gender inclusion must form the basis of Namibia’s disaster preparedness, government leaders said during the opening of the environmental stewardship and gender mainstreaming for state resilience to shocks and disasters workshop on Monday.
The two day workshop is taking place in Windhoek.
The workshop brings together government officials, members of parliament, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, academics, development partners and private sector representatives to discuss how Namibia can strengthen its ability to withstand and recover from recurring shocks such as droughts, floods and wildfires.
The executive director in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Sikongo Haihambo, said the workshop goes beyond a formal meeting and is meant to change how the country responds to droughts, floods, fires, pandemics and other shocks affecting communities.
Haihambo added that environmental stewardship is central to disaster prevention and climate adaptation, and that communities become more resilient when they benefit from natural resources. He also highlighted the role of women in safeguarding traditional knowledge and natural resources.
“Women often hold critical knowledge, but too frequently they are excluded from decision-making processes,” he said.
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare stressed the need for stronger coordination across government.
“If we fail to coordinate at home, we cannot succeed at national or global level. We must work together with one purpose,” he said, referring to the prolonged drought, floods in northern regions, the 2025 Etosha wildfires and the Covid-19 pandemic as reminders of Namibia’s vulnerability.
Ngurare said preparedness across all sectors is key to recovery.
Minister of gender equality and child welfare Emma Kantema said disasters affect women, children and poor households the most, making gender equality central to resilience efforts.
“During the 2023–2025 drought, women and girls walked longer distances for water, managed increased household responsibilities and faced higher exposure to gender-based violence,” she said.
Kantema highlighted labour market inequalities, noting that only 41.9% of women participate in the labour market compared to 51.1% of men, despite women making up more than half of the working-age population.
She called for women’s meaningful participation in decision-making, stronger gender-responsive social protection and expanded economic empowerment programmes.
“When women are empowered, communities are strengthened, and the nation becomes more resilient,” Kantema said.
She said expanding child grant coverage and building new early childhood development centres are part of broader efforts to strengthen resilience. She also pointed to ongoing initiatives to support women economically through entrepreneurship training, women’s business associations and income-generating projects.
“The informal economy, where many women work, needs policy support, investment, and integration into our national development agenda,” Kantema said.
