Windhoek
The National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Federal Republic of Germany have signed a financial and technical cooperation agreement that will see Namibia receiving development aid worth N$1.1 billion.
This follows last year October’s intergovernmental negotiations on development cooperation held between the two countries.
During the negotiations both governments agreed to continue their successful cooperation in the three focal areas of management of natural resources, sustainable economic development and transport/logistics.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Economic Planning and Director General of the NPC, Tom Alweendo, and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Christian Schlaga, in Windhoek on Monday. The agreement includes grants of N$474.18 million for projects to be financed through the German Development Bank (KfW).
Individual projects to be funded include the extension and maintenance of Namibia’s road system, as well as infrastructure support to the extension of the University of Namibia campuses in Ongwediva and Katima Mulilo.
A new project will improve solid waste management in Namibia’s protected areas. Additional funding was provided for the finalisation of ongoing projects under the Namibia-German Special Initiative.
Furthermore, a total of N$630.67 million will be implemented through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) for programmes such as the promotion of vocational education and training, support to land reform, sustainable use of Namibia’s mineral potential, strengthening of institutional and management capacity of the road sector, biodiversity management and climate change, groundwater management in northern Namibia and support to conservancies.
Speaking at the occasion, Alweendo emphasised that the focal areas of the cooperation are to support the Namibian government in its efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment, improve the population’s overall living conditions, strengthen the country’s infrastructure and foster economic development.
He said that all of Germany’s support is fully aligned to the Harambee Prosperity Plan and Namibia’s national development plans.
On his part, Schlaga reiterated Germany’s commitment to remain a reliable partner despite Namibia’s status as an upper-middle income country.