Africa-Press – Namibia. With less than five years before the curtain falls on Namibia’s Vision 2030 deadline, N$505 billion is needed to execute the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). On average, the government will spend N$100 billion per year, equivalent to the country’s current budget.
Like the Biblical Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt towards the Promised Land, the torchbearer of Namibia’s case President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah launched NDP6 on Monday.
She called it “a roadmap for real change that puts people first while growing our economy”.
Running from 2025/26 to 2029/30, the plan outlines how the government aims to grow the economy, improve skills development, create jobs and expand access to essential services. It includes 47 focus areas, 80 programmes and 243 sub-programmes.
This NDP will culminate in Vision 2030, Namibia’s ultimate industrialisation and economic emancipation blueprint.
Broken down, the budget includes N$207 billion allocated for operational costs and N$300 billion for development projects in the public and private sectors.
Billions
The 25 most critical focus areas each carry estimated costs exceeding N$150 million.
According to NDP6’s Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, to realise this vision, the government will need to tap into a wide range of funding sources. “The successful implementation of this plan will require strong partnerships across all sectors, government, business, civil society and international partners,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the launch event on Monday.
She added that NDP6 is not just a policy document but a promise to the people of Namibia to sustainably and inclusively improve their lives.
Pillars
The first pillar of NDP6 aims to strengthen economic growth, transformation and resilience.
“It must be pointed out that our unemployment rate is high because, among other drivers, our industrial capacity remains limited. It is for this reason that NDP6 aims to propel the country towards an advanced industrialised stage, placing due policy emphasis on mineral resources beneficiation and value-addition to stimulate economic growth and development,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Economy
The government intends to expand Namibia’s secondary industries so they contribute 25% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), with manufacturing expected to contribute 18% and provide employment for about 70 000 people.
Manufactured goods are expected to make up 60% of the country’s total exports by 2030.
In addition, the government plans to create 30 000 green jobs within the same timeframe.
“We must move away from depending only on raw exports. We must add value locally and create jobs,” Nandi-Ndaitwah stated.
The second pillar of the plan, focused on human development and community resilience, aims to uplift the living standard of Namibians by ensuring equal access to healthcare, education, job opportunities and decent livelihoods. Among the key goals is to improve Namibia’s Human Development Index from 0.610 to 0.695 and boost human capital productivity from 0.45 to 0.50.
The school completion rate is expected to increase from 26 to 50%. The average per capita income in Namibia’s lowest-income regions is projected to rise from US$3 000 to US$5 000.
Additionally, spending on research and innovation is set to grow from 0.73% to 1% of GDP by 2030. “This plan is about giving every Namibian a fair chance to reach their full potential and realise their individual goals,” reads the plan. Environmental sustainability forms the third pillar of NDP6.
The plan highlights the need to promote long-term economic stability while protecting Namibia’s natural environment and increasing the country’s resilience to climate change. The government aims to increase the volume of available water resources from 1 608 to 2 100 million cubic meters and raise renewable energy generation capacity from 367 megawatts (MW) to 700 MW by 2028.
The portion of water-protected areas managed sustainably is expected to grow from 40% to 65%.
The government also hopes to increase the value added to landed fish from 23% to 45%.
“It is crucial in ensuring that economic development proceeds in harmony with environmental preservation, social equity and the responsible management of resources,” the President said.
Service delivery
The fourth pillar of NDP6 focuses on effective governance and public service delivery.
The government plans to raise Namibia’s overall governance score, as measured by the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, from 63.9% to 75%. In addition, it aims to reduce the country’s corruption perception score from 78% to 65%.
Public institutions will be expected to fully adopt performance management systems, while efforts will be made to return Namibia to the top spot in Africa on the World Press Freedom Index.
In addition, the government wants to increase economic freedoms and support the growth of a competitive private sector.
Furthermore, NDP6 places strong emphasis on education and skills development, especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
It acknowledges that without the right skills, economic growth cannot be sustained.
“Our youth must be prepared for the jobs of the future. We are investing in technical education, digital learning and vocational training to ensure that no one is left behind,” said the official.
There are plans to build and upgrade more schools and technical centres, as well as introduce curriculum reforms to better match the needs of the economy.
Healthcare
Improving public health and access to social services is another big part of the plan.
The government aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality, increase access to clean water and sanitation, and provide better healthcare infrastructure.
“We are committed to ensuring that every Namibian, no matter where they live, can access quality health services,” states the booklet report for NDP6 policy.
What is more, the plan includes expanding social protection programmes to assist vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, the elderly and those affected by poverty.
In addition, NDP6 highlights the need for better roads, electricity, housing and internet access, especially in rural areas. At the same time, the plan promotes environmentally friendly development and the use of green technologies. “We must build in a way that protects our environment. NDP6 supports renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable water management,” the booklet highlights.
In addition, the government aims to attract investment into green hydrogen, solar power and wind energy to boost the economy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Monitoring
To monitor progress, the government will introduce better data systems and regular reviews to track how well the targets are being met. The plan follows a difficult period under NDP5 when Namibia’s economy shrank by an average of 1.1% annually.
The Covid-19 pandemic and global market shocks contributed to rising unemployment, poverty and inequality. “We cannot afford to stand still. NDP6 is about transformation, not just recovery,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
“This plan is our collective journey. If we stay focused and work together, we can build a Namibia where no one is left behind,” she added.
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