Overview of Namibia’s Poverty Reduction Policies and Programmes
National Development Framework: Namibia Vision 2030
Aims at poverty reduction and equal distribution of well-being through different sub-visions. There are different strategies to implement Vision 2030, including the successive medium-term National Development Plans, the 1998 Poverty Reduction Strategy and the 2001 National Poverty Reduction Action Programme.
Poverty Reduction Strategy (1998)
Focuses on three key areas: how to foster more equitable and efficient delivery of (decentralising) public services; how to accelerate equitable agricultural expansion (considering food security); and how to create options for non-agricultural economic empowerment, with emphasis on the informal sector and self-employment options.
National Development Plans (Currently NDP 3)
While Vision 2030 provides the long term development framework for Namibia, the medium-term National Development Plans (currently the third NDP) are the main vehicles to translate the vision into action.
Kunene Regional Development Plan (drafted for 2001/2002-2005/2006)
Focused on fighting poverty, unemployment, hunger and HIV/AIDS. The plan’s vision was the development of the Kunene Region through “sustainable market related development and the sustainable management and utilisation of the natural resource”.
Regional Rural Water Supply Development Plans (RRWSDP) (Horizon of 2015)
Provide annual implementation programmes regarding the rehabilitation and provision of new rural water supply infrastructure. Implementation consists of constructing the infrastructure, establishing Water Point Associations and Water Point Committees, training of Water Point Committees and caretakers and finally handing over the scheme to the users for their own management. In 2001 the RRWSDP for the Kunene Region was completed.
Source: adapted from MAWRD-DRWS 2004, ERM 2009, NPC 1998, NPC 2008