World Bank, Namibia to map new development plan

The World Bank, together with the Ministry of Finance, has put together a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF), building on the one the government and the Bretton Woods Institute developed in 2013.

It follows a recent visit by a delegation of the World Bank to Namibia and the recent disbursement of a N$138.5 million loan package to bulk electricity provider NamPower.

“The World Bank Group is preparing a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the government that will strategically guide its support as the engagement continues to grow,” it said.

Commenting on the CPF concluded in 2013, then-World Bank country director Asad Alam said it was aimed at promoting inclusive prosperity.

“The CPS proposes programmes that are calibrated to reducing poverty and promoting shared prosperity. It provides a framework for collaboration with the country to find solutions for Namibia’s development challenges,” said Alam.

“This collaboration will be done primarily through knowledge exchange and technical cooperation.”

Over 2013–17, the World Bank provided support to Namibia around two pillars: to enhance the state’s capacity by strengthening government institutions’ ability to more effectively design, execute and monitor public policies needed to realise the goals of the NDP4.

Proposed programmes under this pillar cover economic management, environment and natural resource management, statistical capacity, health and nutrition, and developing the private sector by helping to improve the overall regulatory framework for investment and by providing assistance with investment transactions. This will cover programmes aimed at improving the institutional environment for a competitive private sector and increasing productive capacity and infrastructure.