Namibia

Joint Programming: State of play - currently, the European group has decided that the conditions are not present to engage in joint programming.

Historical context

The EU and Member States with a permanent office in Namibia carried out joint programming in 2013. The process resulted in the establishment of a “Joint EU Response Strategy for Namibia 2014-16/17”. The document was aligned to Namibia’s own Development Strategy, the 4^th National Development Plan 2012/13 – 2016/17. The Government of Namibia was not leading the process but fully agreed to it and welcomed in particular the fact that it was carried out as a response to its own strategy and hence underlined Namibia’s ownership.

The Joint Response Strategy was officially presented to the public in the margins of the 2014 Europe Day Reception by the Director General of the National Planning Commission and NAO, Mr. Tom Alweendo. The Joint Response Strategy adheres to commitments made at international aid effectiveness fora, the last one being the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, held in Busan in November 2011. EU and Member States agreed to a large extend on a sectoral division of labour. Further, the EU agreed to concentrate its programmable funds under the 11th EDF in two focal sectors only and to work through delegated cooperation in one sub-sector with the German cooperation that is working in the same sub-sector, with a clear sub-sectoral division of labour. Apart from the EU and Germany, European development partners have ceased to provide programmable funds in the form of Government to Government cooperation. Some of those not providing programmable funds finance however cultural activities, Civil Society Organisations and other activities. Consequently, all EU MS in Namibia took part in the 2013 joint programming exercise and agreed to be bound by it when preparing and implementing their bilateral programmes or actions. Joint programming is frequently discussed during the regular meetings of EU cooperation and trade counsellors chaired by the EU Delegation.

The 2013 Joint EU Response Strategy for Namibia served as the strategy document for the 11th EDF and as the basis for the National Indicative Programme, signed between the EU and Namibia in May 2015. The current multi-annual development strategy, the 5th National Development Plan (NDP5), running from 2017/18 until 2021/22, has been launched in June 2017. 

For the first round of joint programming in 2013, all Member States in Namibia had obtained a mandate from their respective capitals to engage in the process. Further, EU and Member States regularly engage in a joint political dialogue with the Government. EU and Member States jointly prepare strategies such as the Human Rights and Democracy Strategy, the Civil Society Roadmap, the Gender Action Plan etc. Joint analysis of Government policies, strategies and laws is assured through regular meetings of Heads of Missions as well as Cooperation and Trade Counsellors.

Policy Dialogue and Donor Coordination

EU development partners, together with others, such as the UN and US are advocating for improved donor coordination under the leadership of the Government as the present level of government-led donor coordination is insufficient for enhanced aid effectiveness. In this context the EU development counsellors have started to meet with their counterparts from non-European, like-minded development partners. A first meeting with USAID has revealed interest from their side as well. While it remains to be seen to which extend non-European development partners would like to be part of a joint programming and a joint strategy paper, willingness to coordinate is evident.

The Government, on the other hand, seems to be hesitant about improved donor coordination as they fear a reduced policy space in obtaining assistance from what they perceive as “competing” donors. Generally, the Government is recurrently expressing their apprehension about reduced assistance from development partners due to their status as upper middle income country. In doing so the Government underlines the widespread poverty in certain regions of the country and the highly uneven distribution of wealth, which is not taken into account when establishing countries in categories of per capita income. The question of Namibia’s level of donor dependency will continue in political and policy dialogues as well as in European partners' analysis and influencing of policies, strategies and laws that are impacting on investments, job creation and economic growth in the country and the socioeconomic imbalances.

Political Situation

Hage Geingob was voted in as president in the November 2014 elections while serving as prime minister.He succeeded Hifikepunye Pohamba, who stepped down at the end of the two terms allowed by the constitution. He was independent Namibia's first prime minister. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was appointed prime minister in 2015, having served as finance minister for several years. (source: BBC country profile, July 2019)