Namibia:

National Spatial
Development
Framework
By Daleen Brand
What is the impact of not having an NSDF
Discussion for today
• Why is Namibia undertaking an NSDF

• Overview of high-level informants

• What has been done to date on the NSDF

• What are the challenges/risks in preparing such a 'plan/framework’

Why is Namibia undertaking an NSDF

1. Legally mandated
2. Need for overarching and holistic approach to spatial
planning
3. Increased urbanisation
4. Growing population, increased land use activities and increased
conflicts
5. Diversification of economy
 1) Legal Mandate: Namibia’s legal environment in
terms of spatial planning
Shift in planning legislation through the Urban and
Regional Planning Act of 2018
• Spatial planning – all land within Namibia
• Urban and Regional Structure Plans – mandatory
• National Spatial Development Framework –
mandatory –
• Sustainable integrated urban development
promoted, but ACT vague on the “how”
• Authorised Planning Authorities (APA’s) for
decentralised planning functions
 2) Need for overarching spatial guidance
Policy Legislation Core message
• National Land Policy of 1998 • Agriculture Land Reform Act of 1995 • Promote environmentally sustainable land use and
• National Agricultural Policy • Communal Land Reform Act of 2002 different forms of land tenure (including
occupation permissions)
• Improving living standards, promote sustainable
use of land use and natural resources

National Housing Policy (approved National Housing Development Act • Focus shift from housing as “structure”” to
2023) (2002) (will have to be revised) housing as an enabler and promoting integrated
sustainable development principles
• Participatory planning at it’s core
• Densification encouraged – doing away with
focus on 300m²
Land Use Planning Policy 1994 Environmental Management Act of 2007 Sustainability of natural resources, biodiversity and
essential ecological processes and enforces EIA’s but
fails to take into account a holistic approach
No overarching guide or policy on Urban and Regional Planning Act of URP Act Replaces two Ordinances and combine all
spatial planning in Namibia 2018 land in Namibia under this legislation. Calls for
integrated sustainable development and
NO NSDF (yet) decentralisation through creation of Authorised
Planning Authorities
National plans
National frameworks/ Plans:
• Vision 2030
• Harambee Prosperity Plan II
• NDP 5

• Regional Development Plans phased out

• Integrated Regional Land Use Plans – being

developed, but focus is on rural
3) Increased urbanisation
• Population (2023 census) 3,022,401 (3% per annum growth)

Rural Increased by Urban Increased by 65.5%

26.3%)
Gap between Urban and Rural
from 25.3% to 2.1% =
increased urbanisation
Key Statistics from the 2023 Census

Unemployment: 22.5%

VS
RSA= 49 per square km
 Institutional set-up in Namibia
• Namibia divided into 14 Regions

• Regions governed by a Regional Council mandated by the

Regional Council’s Act

• Influence and reliance on national level and Minister still

high

• Urban and Regional Planning Act of 2018 relates to ALL

land within Namibia

• Conflict between legislation (URP Act; Communal Land

Reform Act and Agriculture Land Reform Act) Source: https://www.worldatlas.com/upload/79/84/de/regions-of-namibia-map.png
 Urban areas • Urban areas governed by Local Authorities as per Local Authorities
Act of 1992

• 59 Local Authorities in Namibia ranging from Village, Town,

Municipalities

• Reliance and influence on central level still high with many approvals
still needed by Minister of Urban and Rural Development

• Urban Planning (even for subdivisions and consolidations) approvals

still centralised through the national Urban and Regional Planning
Board and Minister

• Except in cases where a LA’s is an approved APA (Authorised Planning

Authority) through URP Act of 2018

• KEY to becoming APA is to having capacity in terms of registered town

planners and an approved urban structure plan
https://atlasofnamibia.online/chapter-8/urban-land
 Urban areas and economic centres
• Increased growth of urban areas in the central north of
Namibia – large rural/communal population
Oshakati,
Ondangwa,
Ongwediva
• Windhoek size and population growth exceeding
planning and infrastructure capacity

Swakopmund • Coastal towns growing fast due to large mining

Walvis Bay (Harbour) operations in the region and extensive harbour
operations

• Despite having 59 local authorities, only few of these are

economically sustainable/feasible

• Urban primacy being in Windhoek

Source: https://www.worldatlas.com/upload/79/84/de/regions-of-namibia-map.png
4) Increasing land use conflicts • Reduction of communal land
for small farms
• With increasing urbanisation,
urban areas increase and
Communal land cannot
reducing communal area
be used
(marginalised groups)
as collateral

Source: https://atlasofnamibia.online/chapter-8/land-rights-and-management
 5) Economy and livelihoods
Economic
growth rate of
• Inequality between formal and “informal” economy
4.3% (2023)
• Informal economy contributes significantly, but many times
seen as a “nuisance” and poorly documented/ researched,
and contribution therefore not known
• Formal economy: mining, agriculture, tourism,
business/trade
• Communal land decreasing – what will be impact on
subsistence farming
• According to World Bank report, Namibians living below the
national poverty line reduced to 17.4% (2015-16)
Gini
BUT - coefficient:
• Namibia remains one of the most unequal countries with 59.1 (2015)
inequality to economic opportunities and access to
services increasing
• Increased diversification of economies needed

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/namibia/overview
Trade,
connectivity and
integration
Four transportation corridors
• Trans-Kalahari
• Trans- Caprivi
• Trans-Cunene
• Trans-Oranje
• These are the life-lines for Namibia,
ensuring trade, connectivity,
integration and economic
opportunities
• What are opportunities that can
benefit from these connections?
Process of preparing Namibian NSDF
Working group established

Discussions with South African team

Benchmarking with other countries (Botswana, Kenya, RSA, Ghana)

Common understanding of NSDF IMPORTANT

Purpose of NSDF and process, elements of NSDF (Conceptualisation)

Development of a Terms of Reference

MURD in process of procurement

Phases of NSDF process
• Working Group
Conceptualisation • Common understanding (benchmarking, discussions, research, concept document
• Terms of Reference
• BID preparation
• Tender process
Procurement process • Appointment
• Inception meeting/ common understanding
Status Quo (Research and • Data and information gathering
• First initial consultations on key issues (Focus Group Discussions, regional workshops, national workshops)
key issues) – Where are • Key findings and research report
we? • Validation of key findings and research
Analysis and Strategic • Analysis of information and developing recommendations and Strategic Direction
Direction (Where do we • Stakeholder discussions (FGD’s; workshops; discussions) – of key recommendations and Strategic Direction
want to be and HOW do • Refinement of recommendations
• Final report on analysis and recommendations
we get there)
• Drafting of NSDF document, maps, illustrations etc
• Stakeholder input into 1st draft
Preparing NSDF document • 2nd/ 3rd draft depending on consultations
• Validation of draft
• Finalisation of NSDF
• URP Board consideration and recommendations
• Minister recommendation
Submission to URP Board, • Submission to Cabinet
Minister of MURD • Cabinet presentation
• Cabinet approval
• Government Gazette
• Print material
Roll-out and awareness • Training
• Awareness
Monitoring and Evaluation • M&E team set-up and methodology
 Critical factors and risks
• Consulting team and collaboration with Ministerial partner
• Ability to adapt the process
• Research phase is key – rather spend more time on this and ensure
information and data is validated
• Participation from early phases – the key is continuation – can create a
national working group
• Practical recommendations
• Plan must be vertically and horizontally integrated
• Guidance on how to use the NSDF (guideline) – how to use spatial proposals
to reach the “where do we want to be”
• Understanding and awareness – create common understanding amongst
users, implementers and approving authoritise to understand the
INTENT of the plan
Discussion