Namibia
Namibia adopted its first National Action Plan (NAP) in 2019 for the period 2019-2024. The NAP was developed by a National Task Team, which consisted of several ministries and UN technical advisors. Civil society organizations were included in the development process of the NAP through consultative meetings. Namibia’s NAP builds on the country’s National Gender Policy, developed for the 2010-2020 period. The NAP is also seen as complementary to the other mechanisms and frameworks developed to advance women’s rights in Namibia. The overarching goal of the NAP is to create “a safe and peaceful Namibia where all women, men, girls and boys have equal rights and live without fear or want and in dignity” (p. 16). The NAP includes a detailed implementation matrix, which includes an allocated budget.
Namibia reported on the implementation of its NAP, as well as WPS commitments, in its national reporting for Beijing+25 and in preparation for CSW64 (2020). Specifically, the country provided the following updates, among others (pp. 62-63):
- Namibia has aligned its outcome indicators to the AU Continental Results framework where relevant. Progress on the implementation of the Action Plan will be monitored annually to look at the challenges faced by stakeholders in the implementation of the Action Plan; proposals of possible solutions to these challenges; and documenting successes and planning for possible replication.
- Gender equality is an important tenet of Namibia’s Foreign Policy, and as a result, in 2016, Namibia, together with Spain, Canada, Chile, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates launched the Global Focal Points Network, in recognition that national and regional efforts are vital for the full and effective implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.
- In 2018, Namibia successfully inscribed Women, Peace and Security as a standalone agenda item at the last meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The result of this is that SADC member states are now required to report to SADC about their national activities and policies as they relate to the effective implementation of the WPS Agenda.
- The National Development Plan (NDP5), the Harambee Prosperity Plan, (2015), The National Gender Policy (2010-2020) and National Plan of Action on Gender- Based Violence (2012-2016) are all frameworks that address gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the protection of women.
Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990. The most recent armed conflict in the country’s history is the Caprivi Conflict, which lasted from 1994 until 1999 and took place between the Namibian government and the secessionist Caprivi Liberation Army. The conflict displaced thousands of people, who took refuge in the neighboring Botswana.
At the multilateral level, Namibia most recently served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 1999-2000. The Council adopted Resolution 1325, the landmark resolution of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, under the Presidency of Namibia on 31 October 2000.
Country Menu
National Action Plan (2019-2024)
CEDAW
1992
Global Gender Gap Index 2020
12 out of 153
Arms Trade Treaty Ratified
2014
Military expenditure (2019)
$410 million USD
Explore Namibia's National Action Plan
NAP Development
The NAP indicates that civil society organizations were included in the development process of the NAP through consultative meetings.
WILPF does not have a country section in Namibia and therefore was not involved in the development process of Namibia’s NAP.
The NAP was developed by a National Task Team, which consisted of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, and UN technical advisors. The Ministry of Defense chaired the team while the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation acted as co-chairs. Additionally, the NAP development process also entailed consultative meetings with multiple stakeholders, including government ministries, security sector institutions, traditional authorities, the military, women’s organisations, faith-based organisations, civil society, and youth organisations.
NAP Implementation
The NAP identifies civil society organizations as among the key actors of several strategic objectives. For example, strategic objective #1 (To mainstream a gender perspective in security sector legislation) lists “relevant civil society institutions” as among the key actors. However, the NAP does not further specify which organizations will be a part of the implementation.
Multiple ministries are tasked with implementing the NAP on the implementation matrix alongside other actors, such as civil society organizations and regional councils.
NAP Monitoring and Evaluation
The NAP does not indicate civil society inclusion in the monitoring and evaluation of the NAP.
The NAP indicates that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the NAP.
The implementation period of the NAP is five years (2019-2024).
The NAP identifies 10 objectives (referred to as “priority areas”), compiled under the four pillars of UNSCR 1325: participation, prevention, protection, and relief and recovery. On Namibia’s NAP, participation has three objectives, prevention has three objectives, protection has two objectives, and relief and recovery has two objectives listed. Each priority area has its own strategic objectives. For example, priority area #2 listed under participation is: “Participation of women in peace and security structures” (p. 19). Strategic objective #1 for this priority area is: “To mainstream a gender perspective in security sector legislation” (p.19, implementation matrix).
The NAP has a detailed implementation matrix that breaks down each priority area with corresponding strategic objectives, activities, expected outcomes, indicators and means of verification, time frame, and key actors. For example, strategic objective #1 listed under priority area #2 for participation identifies “Review existing security sector legislation (acts, policies, regulations) to ensure gender sensitivity” and “Initiate security sector reviews and issue directives that are gender responsive and/or inclusive” as the corresponding activities of this objective (p. 19, implementation matrix).
The NAP identifies several indicators, both qualitative and quantitative, for each objective, outlined in the implementation matrix. For example, strategic objective #1 listed under participation identifies, “Number of legislation reviewed and updated” and “Existence of gender inclusive reviews and directives” as indicators and means of verification (p. 19, implementation matrix).
The NAP indicates that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the NAP and that implementation will be monitored annually. Additionally, the document states that the NAP “will be accompanied by a monitoring and evaluation plan, to be used by different stakeholders” and that all actors responsible for implementing the NAP will need to report on their activities (p. 32). However, the NAP does not specify when or how the plan will be developed or made available.
The NAP includes an estimated budget of $3 million, broken down with separate estimates for five fiscal years, for the implementation of the action plan.
The NAP does not address disarmament in its objectives or scope of implementation.