Key Developments in the Country and Regional context
In 2024, Namibia held Presidential and National Assembly elections amid a severe drought that affected a significant portion of the population. H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected as Namibia’s first female president, securing 57% of the vote—marking a historic milestone in the country’s political landscape.
While this political milestone was significant, Namibia continued to grapple with pressing challenges. Climate change continued to pose significant challenges, impacting agriculture, water resources, and overall sustainability. These challenges hindered progress on SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 3 (Good Health and Well-being) while underscoring the urgent need for action under SDG 13 (Climate Action). Namibia, along with Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, faced the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, exacerbating food insecurity. In response to the worst drought in a century, the Government of Namibia declared a State of Emergency, prompting the UN to realign resources to support resilience-building efforts. These efforts leveraged a subregional approach within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to address shared vulnerabilities.
Amid these regional dynamics, Namibia witnessed notable human rights developments. The Namibian High Court annulled the apartheid-era sodomy law, effectively decriminalizing consensual samesex relations between men.Following the ruling, the Government announced its intention to appeal, and Parliament introduced a new marriage bill that countered aspects of the judgment related to same-sex marriage. These developments reflect ongoing legal and policy discussions on human rights and the principle of Leaving No One Behind, which remains central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In alignment with national priorities, the UN adopted a strategic approach focused on sustainable solutions to complex challenges, emphasizing climate resilience and sustainable economic development.
This approach aims to address both immediate needs and long-term development objectives. Notably, the UN finalized the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2025–2029), integrating 23 UN agencies with a focus on reducing inequality and empowering youth. New entities also joined the UN Country Team to address emerging issues, including:
- UNEP, supporting the conceptualization of the Leaving No One Behind (LNOB) assessment of the Green Hydrogen sector;
- OCHA, facilitating the response to El Niño through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF);
- OHCHR, advancing the operationalization of a Human Rights Economy.
Overview of Cooperation Framework Results
As the 2019-2024 United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPAF) concludes, the UN reflects on key achievements that have advanced Namibia’s Vision 2030, the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the past five years, the UN, in collabo ration with the Government of Namibia, development partners, and civil society, has supported policy reforms, programme implementation, and institutional strengthening, ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.
Significant progress was made in policy development, including the National Employment Policy, Financial Inclusion Strategy, and AfCFTA Strategy and its implementation, which have enhanced trade, investment, and job creation. The Social Protection Policy and Integrated Beneficiary Registry (IBR) improved service delivery for vulnerable groups, while the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) expanded universal health coverage. Through its commitment to environmental sustainability, Namibia updated its Nationally Deter mined Contributions, supported the development of the Green Hydrogen Strategy, and implemented the Namibia Water Sector Support Program.
Key programmes have driven tangible impact. The Empretec Namibia Programme and MSME support initiatives fostered entrepreneurship and employment. The Transforming Education Summit and ICT Competency Training for Teachers advanced digital learning (SDG 4), while the GBV Prevention and Response Programme strengthened survivor support services (SDG 5, SDG 16). The Renewable Energy Expansion Programme accelerated Namibia’s transition to solar, wind, and hydrogen energy, and the Blue Economy Programme promoted sustainable marine resource management.
Institutional capacity-building efforts have strengthened governance, transparency, and data-driven decision-making. The UN supported the National Planning Commission (NPC), Electoral Commission of Namibia, and Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) in enhancing development coordination, democratic processes, and data systems Looking ahead, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025 2029 will align with Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) to accelerate the SDGs through economic transformation, social protection, climate resilience, and governance reforms. The UN remains commit ted to inclusive and sustainable progress, ensuring that no one is left behind.
How the UN contributed to the SDGs in 2024
