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The OvaHerero people of Kaokoland, semi-nomadic pastoralists in Namibia and Angola, developed a Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) between March 2022 and June 2024. Supported by Natural Justice and International Rivers, the process involved six phases: securing community buy-in, capacity building, research across 34 villages and four museums, iterative community validation, translation into the OtjiHerero language, and official launch. The BCP serves as a tool to safeguard traditional knowledge against threats from climate change and infrastructure development, and to ensure free, prior, and informed consent for external parties engaging in research, tourism, or development on their territories.

The Windhoek+30 Declaration, issued following a 2021 UNESCO conference in Namibia, asserts that information is a public good essential for human rights, democratic governance, and addressing global emergencies. It identifies critical threats to this good, including the economic crisis facing independent media, the proliferation of digital disinformation, and physical and legal attacks on journalists. The document outlines a series of calls to action: governments are urged to create enabling environments for free press and universal internet access; technology companies are asked to increase transparency in their automated systems and conduct human rights risk assessments; and intergovernmental bodies are encouraged to develop joint funding instruments to support media viability.

SEI Oxford celebrates its 20th anniversary by reviewing its transition from a small office focused on rural vulnerability to a global actor in climate adaptation. Key achievements include contributing to IPCC reports, launching the weADAPT platform, and developing tools for collaborative decision-making and climate risk management across diverse geographies.

The document outlines how a consortium of researchers and practitioners in Namibia successfully influenced climate policy by acting as 'knowledge brokers'. Key strategies included aligning research with government mandates, using participatory tools like Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (VRA) and Transformative Scenario Planning (TSP), and tailoring knowledge products into local languages and accessible formats. The study emphasizes that while robust evidence is necessary, long-term impact requires sustained engagement, flexible funding, and the ability to navigate political landscapes to bridge gaps between national and local governance.

The document argues that transport is a critical driver of development but a major source of emissions, accounting for 23% of energy-related CO2. It defines sustainable transport as safe, affordable, and efficient mobility that minimizes environmental impacts. The report details the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides examples of successful interventions, such as Jakarta's BRT system and various cities' shifts toward active mobility (cycling and walking). It specifically notes the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for structural changes in urban transit, though it warns that 30 major economies continue to provide significant subsidies to fossil fuels over clean energy.

The document argues that integrating nature-based solutions (NBS) and flexible tenure systems into urban upgrading schemes can improve living conditions and climate resilience for marginalized populations in African dryland cities. It highlights a pioneering approach in Namibia across three pilot cities and draws on research from the 'Peri-Urban Resilient Ecosystems' partnership involving Namibia, Kenya, and Tanzania.

The document argues that effective climate services require an intentional MEL design based on outcome mapping to foster collaboration and adaptive management. It details the use of boundary partners, outcome challenges, and progress markers to track behavioral changes rather than just direct development impacts. The briefing recommends specific tools like the 'most significant change' technique and outcome harvesting to capture complex, non-linear results. An illustrative example from the FRACTAL project in Windhoek, Namibia, demonstrates how these elements are applied to different stakeholder groups, including city officials and climate service providers.

The FRACTAL project developed three Climate Risk Narratives (CRNs) for Windhoek to translate complex climate projections into non-technical, actionable scenarios for the 2040s. These narratives—ranging from 'much hotter and drier' to 'warmer with similar rainfall'—were co-produced through 'Learning Labs' involving scientists, city officials, and stakeholders. The CRNs served as 'boundary objects' to facilitate dialogue and inform the City of Windhoek's Integrated Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (ICCSAP). Findings highlight critical vulnerabilities in water security due to increased evaporation and the disproportionate impact of flooding on informal settlements.

The report details a sensitisation project in Botswana led by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO). Key activities included a workshop for 20 civil society organisations (CSOs) on 10 March 2020, where participants discussed the APRM's potential to depoliticise socio-economic criticism and the risks of an 'implementation deficit' regarding National Programmes of Action (NPoA). The project identified a need for additional funding to ensure representation of CSOs outside the capital, Gaborone, to avoid the lack of national coverage experienced in a similar Namibian project. Meetings were held with the Botswana government, including the Director of Governance in the Office of the President, who admitted the country is "still far behind" in APRM implementation. Consultations with international partners like the European Union, the British High Commission, and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung focused on securing funding and aligning the project with donor objectives. The report also notes meetings with the University of Botswana and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) to foster collaboration between academia, government, and civil society.

The Stockholm Environment Institute developed a terminology card game as part of the Future Resilience for African CiTies and Lands (FRACTAL) project to address gaps in understanding climate-related terms. The game is designed for use in 'Learning Labs' to create a 'level playing field' of knowledge between city stakeholders, scientists, and policy makers. Participants cooperatively categorize statements and actions under concepts such as weather, climate, adaptation, mitigation, sustainable development, and disaster risk reduction. The activity aims to facilitate 'transdisciplinary knowledge integration' and build working relationships to increase the uptake of science in urban policy and planning.

The document details the efforts of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) to support Namibian civil society organisations (CSOs) in engaging with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Following Namibia's accession to the APRM in January 2017, CSOs formed a working group in 2018 to identify 13 critical governance issues and produce a written submission presented on 21 June 2019. The brief outlines ten lessons for other countries, emphasizing the need for early familiarity with the APRM, strategic issue selection, government engagement to build trust, and the use of peer learning from other states. It concludes that the process not only pressured the Namibian government to accelerate its national APRM process but also led to the creation of 'Civic +264', a new information hub for civil society coordination.

On 06 September 2018, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) convened a meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, to review the progress of the APRM Sensitisation Project in Namibia (ASPIN). The meeting focused on the development of a civil society submission to the APRM, following Namibia's accession to the mechanism in January 2017. Participants discussed 11 specific draft submissions covering governance, social, and environmental issues, and planned a validation workshop for late October 2018.

The assessment finds that while Namibia has strong geological data and a fair revenue system, it suffers from outdated legislation, particularly regarding mine closure, water management, and occupational health and safety. The report recommends prioritizing the creation of mandatory financial assurances for mine closure and updating the legal framework for environmental and artisanal mining.

On 25 July 2018, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) convened a meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, to engage civil society in the APRM process. Participants identified 17 primary governance challenges, which were subsequently condensed into a thematic framework for a written submission. Key areas of concern include executive dominance, land access, youth unemployment, institutionalised corruption, and a lack of policy coherence. The IPPR is tasked with driving the drafting process, with a deadline for initial contributions set for the end of August 2018.

On 19 April 2018, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) conducted a workshop for over 50 Namibian MPs and staff. The event focused on integrating parliament into the APRM process, sharing lessons from other African nations, and aligning the mechanism with Namibia's national development plans. Discussions highlighted the importance of parliamentary oversight in implementing National Programmes of Action (NPoA) and the need for a formal parliamentary strategy and committee to manage APRM engagement.

The workshop, organised by SAIIA and IPPR, provided training to over 50 civil society members on the APRM's structure and the importance of early engagement. Key recommendations included the formation of a civil society working group and the development of a detailed written submission to influence the national review. Participants identified critical national issues for the submission, including land ownership, urban housing, the informal economy, education, and youth unemployment. The report also highlighted lessons from other African nations, noting that while the APRM can drive policy changes, such as women's rights in Lesotho, its impact is often limited by poor implementation of National Programmes of Action.

The document examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to integrate youth into democratic governance, highlighting the African Governance Architecture-Youth Engagement Strategy (AGA-YES) and the African Youth Charter. It argues that despite these frameworks, young people remain largely alienated and marginalised, facing significant barriers such as unemployment and restrictive legislation. The brief details findings from 2016 regional consultations, noting that youth often lack knowledge of the AU human rights system and face systemic hurdles like prohibitive age requirements for political office. It recommends that member states domesticate AU shared values, repeal discriminatory laws, and move beyond tokenistic engagement to harness the potential of Africa's youth demographic.

The document analyzes Namibia's shift from a liberal FDI regime toward one with more state regulation via the New Investment Bill, which introduces performance requirements and reserves certain activities for citizens. It argues that while mandatory requirements may work in the extractives sector, incentives are more effective for non-resource sectors to avoid deterring investors. The paper also explores the potential for a regional investment framework within SADC and SACU and highlights how FDI from China, Germany, and South Africa is critical to expanding the Port of Walvis Bay and its associated transport corridors.

The report identifies Namibia as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly in agriculture and water resources. It finds that while national policies like the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2012) are strong, there is a significant gap in translating these into university curricula and coordinated research. The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Polytechnic of Namibia are key partners, with UNAM's Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC) emerging as a hub for interdisciplinary work. However, the report highlights a lack of dedicated CCD postgraduate degrees, insufficient institutional coordination, and a need for greater transdisciplinary research that engages local communities and indigenous knowledge.

Namibia Dairies faces significant threats from the dumping of long-life milk by South African companies following the expiration of infant industry protection. The company reports systemic barriers including difficult VAT claim processes, conservative bank lending, and a shortage of qualified engineers due to a lack of national industrial policy and restrictive work permit regulations. Regional trade is hindered by non-tariff barriers, such as lengthy border delays in Angola and rigorous, time-consuming certification requirements in Botswana that reduce product shelf life. To mitigate these issues, the company has invested in private pre-inspections for Angolan exports and R&D for flexible shelf life, while lobbying the Namibian government for punitive tariffs against South African imports.