Lessons from mainstreaming climate change in Namibia

This case study examines the efforts of the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) from 2014 to 2021 to mainstream climate change into national and sub-national policy. It focuses on the role of 'knowledge brokering'—acting as a link between knowledge producers and users—to facilitate evidence-based decision-making and climate adaptation.

• Aligning research with the institutional mandates and priority issues of government stakeholders is essential for securing collaboration and influencing policy. The project succeeded by focusing on topical issues such as droughts, floods, and rural development that resonated with national and regional agendas.
• Effective knowledge brokering requires the ability to seize windows of opportunity and respond flexibly to the needs of stakeholders. This responsiveness is enabled by flexible funding, such as that provided by Canada’s International Development Research Centre, and a team open to iterative learning and adaptation.
• Knowledge products alone are insufficient to drive change; they must be accompanied by continuous awareness-raising and engagement activities. Tailoring evidence for different audiences—using radio series, infographics, and translations into local languages like Oshiwambo—increases the reach and legitimacy of the information.
• The use of participatory, solutions-oriented tools such as Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (VRA) and Transformative Scenario Planning (TSP) helps build relationships and empower stakeholders. These tools facilitate dialogue between different governance levels, allowing local indigenous knowledge to reach national planners and vice versa.
• Building a strong reputation and credibility is a multi-faceted process that involves providing robust evidence, maintaining a diverse team of experts, and performing unacknowledged support work for government partners to prove reliability.
• Knowledge brokers must possess specific personal competencies to be effective, including political savviness, humility, and the ability to navigate both formal and informal networks. The team found that Namibia's political environment is relatively fertile, with approachable decision-makers.

APA

Scodanibbio, L., McNamara, L., Angula, M., Togarepi, C., & Shalumbu-Shivute, B. (2021). Lessons from mainstreaming climate change in Namibia. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/CDKN%20Learning%20Story%20KC%20-%20Namibia_WEB.pdf

Chicago

Scodanibbio, Lucia, Lisa McNamara, Margaret Angula, Cecil Togarepi, and Bernadette Shalumbu-Shivute. Lessons from mainstreaming climate change in Namibia. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2021. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/CDKN%20Learning%20Story%20KC%20-%20Namibia_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Scodanibbio |first1=Lucia |last2=McNamara |first2=Lisa |last3=Angula |first3=Margaret |last4=Togarepi |first4=Cecil |last5=Shalumbu-Shivute |first5=Bernadette |title=Lessons from mainstreaming climate change in Namibia |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=October 2021 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/CDKN%20Learning%20Story%20KC%20-%20Namibia_WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{scodanibbio2021lessons, author = {Scodanibbio, Lucia and McNamara, Lisa and Angula, Margaret and Togarepi, Cecil and Shalumbu-Shivute, Bernadette}, title = {{Lessons from mainstreaming climate change in Namibia}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/CDKN%20Learning%20Story%20KC%20-%20Namibia_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }