In a strong and visionary address at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025), Hon. Natangue Paulus Ithete, Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, reaffirmed Namibia’s leadership role in shaping Africa’s disaster resilience strategies. Representing Namibia and the continent as Chair of the Africa Regional Platform Bureau for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ithete delivered opening remarks during Africa Day at the Geneva International Conference Centre.
He emphasized in his remarks, Namibia’s pleasure in leading continental collaboration on risk management and catastrophe preparedness. In order to approve the draft Africa Common Position that will be presented at the Global Platform, he praised the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) for organizing the conference.
The position paper was the result of extensive cooperation and broad engagement among African Member States, regional organizations, and civil society groups, according to the Deputy Prime Minister. The Windhoek Declaration, a seminal policy statement that centers disaster risk reduction (DRR) at the core of sustainable development initiatives in Africa, is completely in line with the draft, according to Ithete.
With Namibia hosting the 2024 Africa Regional Platform on DRR in Windhoek, the country has played a pivotal role in setting the strategic tone for continental disaster risk governance. The alignment between the Windhoek Declaration and the Africa Common Position ensures that African nations speak with one voice at GP2025, advocating for practical, grounded solutions that reflect the continent’s realities.
For Namibia, a country with a climate-sensitive economy and a robust mining sector, disaster risk preparedness is not only about humanitarian response, it is also about economic sustainability and national resilience. As Ithete emphasized, implementing DRR strategies is critical to protecting investments in key sectors such as mining, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.
A greater focus on climate and catastrophe risks is especially beneficial for the mining sector. From droughts that interrupt water-intensive processes to flash floods that impact mine operations, mining businesses throughout Namibia and the region are realizing more and more how important integrated risk management is. As stated in Geneva, the Common Position encourages risk-informed planning and investment across sectors in addition to risk mitigation.
Ithete advised African nations to get ready for a future in which the availability of foreign aid is unpredictable. He underlined the significance of institutional strength, resource mobilization, and domestic investment. He urged African governments and industry to place a higher priority on resilience and self-reliance in light of recent global financing patterns, especially the reduction of US assistance in a number of areas.
His message was clear: the time to act is now. With climate change intensifying weather-related disasters and economic uncertainties mounting, the continent cannot afford to be caught off guard.
“We must do away with the chronic dependence on superpowers,” he said. “Let’s make hay while the sun shines.”
For Namibia, this means continued leadership in both policymaking and implementation. It also means reinforcing the resilience of strategic industries, including mining, through stronger infrastructure, smarter planning and regional cooperation.
The session in Geneva marked another chapter in Namibia’s growing role as a thought leader in disaster risk reduction, not only in Africa, but globally. With strong political will, coordinated action and a shared vision, Namibia is helping to shape a more secure and sustainable future.
