Namibia towards ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all

Abstract

Although Namibia has made advancements towards the attainment of its National Vision 2030, a snapshot of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) shows varied results. For instance, while the country has made significant progress towards economic
growth, attaining an upper-middle-income country (UMIC) status, it still faces high levels of inequality. Moreover, certain groups such as women, youth, people with disabilities, and marginalised communities lag far behind. In addition, the rural-urban divide in terms of access to public and social services such as health, education, water, energy, and sanitation inclusive of quality of services are prominent. This article presents some of Namibia’s accomplishments while highlighting challenges revealed by the dichotomy of its development progress. The article paves the way for in-depth research, particularly on issues of leaving no one behind (LNOB), inequalities, and addressing the last mile
challenges in an UMIC context to inform policy-makers with evidence.