Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights

In partnership with civil society organizations and unions, our Regional Human Rights Program and Global Labor Program improves awareness and enforcement of human as well as workers’ rights in Southern Africa. 

Economic Growth and Trade

USAID’s Southern African Trade and Investment Hub supports Namibia’s efforts to increase international competitiveness, intra-regional trade and food security. In partnership with Microsoft, we are establishing a one-stop electronic customs clearance process - or “single window” - on the Botswana-Namibia border to enable the electronic exchange of declarations data, reducing costs and transit time.

Energy

The Southern Africa Energy Program (SAEP) provides technical assistance to generate 3,000 new megawatts (MWs), increase connections to electricity by 3 million, and develop 1,000 MWs of transmission capacity across Southern Africa.  While a specific target has yet to be identified for Namibia, it is one of four focus countries of SAEP, along with Malawi, Zambia, and Madagascar. Relevant government beneficiaries and stakeholders include the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Electricity Control Board (ECB), NamPower and Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs).

Environment 

The Combatting Wildlife Crime Project (CWCP) is a five-year initiative to counter threats to endangered populations of black rhino and African elephants in the Kavango-Zambezi Area (KAZA) and Namibia. Through a multi-partner and multi-country approach, CWCP seeks to strengthen surveillance capacity and anti-poaching collaboration at both the private and community level. The project will help improve knowledge of wildlife crime and its impacts as well as share data and information among law enforcement agencies and civil society in the KAZA countries (Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia). CWCP is expected to increase the black rhino population in Namibia, and stabilize and contribute to range expansion of KAZA elephants.

Global Health

Through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we support the Ministry of Health and Social Services in their national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We also partner with non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and government health clinics across Namibia to expand access to quality health services. Our assistance both prevents new HIV infections and treats existing HIV infections by equipping healthcare workers with critical skills and training.  We work with the government to bring services closer to villages, and connect orphans and vulnerable children to life-changing social grants and protection services.