National Water Policy White Paper.

This Policy Document constitutes a strategy by the government's ongoing Review process to work with all stakeholders in addressing the challenges of Namibia's water resources. It is largely based on the Namibian Water Resources Management Review (NWRMR), which was launched in March 1998. The Policy Framework is divided into five Chapters. Chapter 1 outlines the present state of water resources in Namibia and sets out the reasons why a reform of the water sector is needed. Chapter 2 defines the guiding water policy principles and the detailed principles and objectives of water policy. Chapter 3 is the main body of the Policy and sets out the implementation of integrated approaches to water resource development and management and proses policy measures for improved management and conservation of water sources in Namibia and those of shared (transboundary) watercourses. It outlines objectives and strategies for the implementation of the policy. Chapter 4 contains the conclusion and Chapter 5 the glossary.
Chapter 1 describes the current state of water resources and their use, but also pays attention to the need to bring about a political, legislative administrative, economic and social reform in the post-colonial era. The most important new initiative related to water is the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Policy (WASP), approved by the Cabinet in 1993. Since the introduction of WASP, rural water supplies in communal areas have been expanded to meet the domestic and livestock requirements of the majority black farming population. By 1998, access to safe water in rural areas had risen from 51% in 1991 to 65% of the population. The emphasis on community management of water supplies is in keeping with other public sector reforms currently underway in Namibia. Due attention is given to international norms and their implications for the Namibian context. A primary challenge in Namibia is to anticipate and manage water resources during prolonged periods of drought. It is imperative that there is a holistic approach to water resource management and other sectors affected by drought and floods such as food production, relief, and public health. A pre-condition of effective management is an accurate understanding of the entire water environment, and, in particular, water use patterns. The identification and integration of all issues relating to the resource base are essential both for reasons of efficiency, and to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges Namibia faces. For this reason, Namibia is moving towards the adoption of an integrated, basin-scale framework for water resources assessment and management. The key institution concerned with assessment and management of the resource base is the Directorate of Resource Management in the Department of Water Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture Water and Rural Development (MAWRD).
Chapter two defines key elements of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and basic principles. At the heart of the policy framework for the equitable, efficient, and sustainable management of water resources is a set of basic principles against which all water-related decisions need to be tested. These basic principles reflect a central core of principles expressed in the Namibian Constitution and in existing national water-related policies, particularly the Water and Sanitation Sector Policy (WASP). They also reflect core principles agreed at the international level. These basic principles concern ownership, equity, promotion of development, economic value, awareness and participation, openness and transparency, decentralization, ecosystem values and sustainability, integrated management and planning, clarity of institutional roles and accountability, capacity building, and shared watercourses. Both principles and objectives and strategies for the implementation of the policies are placed under the same categories: Water Resources Assessment; Shared Watercourses; Water Use and Conservation; Economic and Financial Issues; Legislation and Regulations; Institutional and Community Participation; Human Resources Development. Each category is subdivided into specific issues, and for each issue, an objective and strategy are defined. Issues include, among other things, implementation of integrated approaches to resource development, managing hydrological risk and vulnerability, consultations and agreements with riparian neighbours, strengthen and standardise approaches to international river basin management, improved water use, public awareness and education, environmental and economic sustainability, legal ownership of water resources in accordance with the Constitution, social aspects of water supply, community participation, resolution of water disputes, institutions and administration, development of standards.