A remarkable 35-year partnership between Germany and Namibia has seen a staggering N$32 billion injected into the nation’s development, a testament to enduring collaboration and mutual trust. This substantial investment, comprising both grants and preferential loans, was highlighted at a recent celebration in Windhoek, marking 35 years of fruitful cooperation since Namibia’s independence.
German Ambassador to Namibia, Thorsten Hutter, alongside former National Planning Commission (NPC) Director General, Obeth Kandjoze, revealed the scale of this commitment. For the current fiscal year alone, the two nations have allocated approximately N$13.3 billion towards financial cooperation projects and N$2.05 billion for technical assistance, with a further N$2.2 billion earmarked for upcoming initiatives.
The German state-owned investment and development bank, KfW Bankengruppe, has spearheaded over 60 financial cooperation projects, while the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) have delivered over 253 technical cooperation projects. Currently, 60 projects are active, spanning various sectors crucial to Namibia’s growth.
The partnership, which began in 1990, has focused on sustainable management of natural resources, including geology, mining, water, and environmental management. Early projects addressed pressing needs such as rural water supply, low-cost housing, road construction, vocational training, agriculture, fisheries, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“We are proud to be celebrating 35 years of German-Namibian development cooperation, as well as 35 years of a fruitful and trusted friendship,” read a joint statement released by Hutter and Kandjoze.
Key projects have included the rehabilitation of rural water supplies in the Oshana and Omusati regions, and GIZ’s “Sustainable Animal and Range Development Programme in the Communal Areas of Namibia” (SARDEP), aimed at improving farming practices and combating land degradation.
Germany’s support has also extended to national park management, land rights for rural populations, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and enhancing the resilience of Namibian farmers. Significant investments have been made in water infrastructure, including wastewater treatment plants, potable water reclamation facilities, and bulk water supply improvements.
Furthermore, the collaboration has focused on upgrading infrastructure in informal settlements, formalizing land tenure, and strengthening vocational education and training. In the transport sector, a phased-out intervention has focused on rehabilitating key corridor trunk roads and constructing regional access roads using labour-intensive methods, improving rural access to socio-economic services.
This long-standing partnership underscores Germany’s commitment to Namibia’s sustainable development, fostering growth and resilience across the nation.
