By: Josef Kefas Sheehama
Namibia has a huge opportunity for long-term economic growth and development through the potential of its blue economy, which could generate a significant number of direct and indirect jobs.
The NDP 5 interventions can be used to realise Namibia’s Vision 2030 aspirations of eradicating poverty, decreasing inequality, and fostering an inclusive economy.
To achieve this, Namibia must implement robust climate change mitigation strategies and maintain an eco-friendly economy that generates employment while preserving ecosystems. By doing so, the country can effectively combat climate change.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines the green economy as a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive economy.
Similarly, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) describes green growth as promoting economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide essential resources and environmental services.
Given the significance of the global climate crisis, the green economy appears to be the most viable solution for the prevailing economic model and is essential for achieving sustainable development, particularly in developing nations like Namibia.
The Fifth National Development Plan (NDP 5) aims to develop and broaden the blue economy to foster social inclusion, sustainable production, and equitable wealth distribution while maintaining environmental health.
Resource efficiency involves using resources in a way that delivers value to society while reducing the amount of resources needed.
With a focus on investments, jobs, and skills, the green economy offers a macroeconomic strategy for long-term, sustainable economic growth.
Therefore, governments and stakeholders must take steps to address barriers identified in the blue economy strategy.
Government measures should encourage domestic aquaculture production through the use of earth dams and strict regulations.
These steps are essential for establishing a commercial aquaculture industry and can help reduce unemployment.
The government should revitalise and upgrade the Epalela fish farm to improve food security, create jobs, and raise living standards in the surrounding communities.
Namibia has many earth dams that could be improved and made available to locals as cooperatives to catch fish for local hospitals, schools, and retail stores. Floodwater from the Cuvelai could also be collected.
Aquaculture will be critical for rural communities to generate revenue, jobs, and food security. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has issued over 148 aquaculture licences to spur the industry’s growth.
Governments must understand that community-based aquaculture projects managed by community members will not succeed without technical know-how, managerial skills, and enthusiasm.
There is significant growth potential in Namibian aquaculture, especially in the marine sector, despite it being in its early stages.
To encourage community-based projects and centres of excellence, government involvement is crucial.
Namibia’s mixed economy, where government control coexists with individual freedom and centralised economic planning, allows for a wide range of commercial activities.
The country’s prominence as a major exporter of mining products categorises its economy as mixed, with the mining sector playing a significant role.
The Namibia Blue Economy will significantly impact the country by enhancing its untapped potential.
When effectively harnessed through appropriate policy frameworks, the existing and emerging sectors of the blue economy can lead to increased food security, employment creation, tourism, infrastructure development, green energy, and technological advancements.
Namibia has a wealth of human capital that, if trained and involved, could transform the country to profit from the blue economy sustainably by creating wealth and jobs.
Namibians have the potential to build a multibillion-dollar blue economy that could contribute to eradicating poverty if provided with access to cutting-edge technology, reasonably priced capital, and market access.
Implementing environmentally friendly fishing techniques could significantly impact achieving this goal.
The green economy can help achieve these goals by sharing innovative ideas, developments, and technology and forming partnerships to raise capital and increase the productivity of agriculture and fishing.
Significant investments in infrastructure and job creation are needed to keep up with such growth.
By applying knowledge of renewable energy sources and sustainable resource extraction, the blue economy can meet the need for mineral resources and supply reliable and affordable energy.
Namibia’s economy remains mostly homogeneous in its current structure.
While the mining industry’s exports have grown in significance globally, they are frequently unstable due to their reliance on commodity prices.
Historically, the government has increased its budget during economic downturns to spur growth. Diversifying the economy to stop relying solely on one or two major drivers of development is necessary.
This requires more funding for the green economy, with a focus on exporting rather than consumption. The government’s capacity to boost the economy is limited, and there is a significant skills gap in the private sector.
Attracting foreign direct investment with the right policy framework is crucial for creating a diversified economy.
Aquaculture’s diversification will help address the sector’s challenges and future changes. Global factors such as shifting markets, resource volatility, climate change, and food security concerns drive aquaculture’s diversification.
However, the blue economy prioritises environmental justice and social equity, differing from the traditional business model. These core values aim to safeguard vulnerable populations from negative environmental and economic impacts, recognise the worth of every individual, and stress the equitable distribution of benefits and responsibilities.
In conclusion, achieving a blue economy will require significant changes in sectors like tourism, aquaculture, and fisheries to address unsustainable practices like pollution and overfishing.
