Namibian-German Government Consultations 2015
(From l. to r.) Alois Schneider, Head of the German Delegation, Onno Hückmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Andries Levi Hungamo, Permanent Secretary of the National Planning Commission and Willem Goeiemann, Chief: National Development Advice, National Planning Commission (© German Embassy Windhoek)
This year's Consultations on Development Cooperation took place on the 17 and 18 of February 2015 in Windhoek. The consultations were opened jointly by the Permanent Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Mr. Andries Levi Hungamo, the German Ambassador, Mr. Onno Hückmann, and the Head of the German Delegation, Mr. Alois Schneider. Permanent Secretary Hungamo in his opening statement acknowledged the important support that the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is rendering by supporting crucial development projects, as stated in NDP 4. Ambassador Hückmann as well as Mr. Schneider confirmed that Germany will remain a reliable partner despite Namibia's status as upper middle income country.
During the consultations, both parties confirmed the three focal areas of the cooperation based on Vision 2030 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV). The three areas are: The management of natural resources, sustainable economic development and transport.
Due to the major threat posed by the further spread of HIV/AIDS, HIV prevention is a cross-cutting theme of bilateral cooperation. Additionally, Germany supports the Namibian government in mitigating climate change and improving energy security by promoting renewable energy sources and reducing the dependence on electricity import.
Both sides praised the constructive and cooperative working environment and highlighted the numerous concrete successes of Namibian-German development cooperation. The main goal of the German-Namibian development cooperation remains the fight against poverty and inequality.
Both governments confirmed their commitment to further strengthen the special partnership and friendship between the two countries. This is also reflected in the scale of German development funding (the highest per capita input in Africa). Since Namibian independence, official development assistance amounts to more than Euro 800 million (more than N$ 9 billion). This is complemented by the cooperation and funding under the framework of the European Union, the African Union, the SADC and other multi-lateral organisations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria or the African Development Bank.
The 25 year anniversary of development cooperation will also be celebrated with numerous events in the framework of the Namibian-German development cooperation.
The next bilateral Negotiations on Development Cooperation are planned for the end of 2015 in Berlin.