Integrated Country Strategy Namibia FOR PUBLIC RELEASE FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Table of Contents 1. Chief of Mission Priorities ................................................................................................................ 2 2. Mission Strategic Framework .......................................................................................................... 4 3. Mission Goals and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 5 4. Management Objectives ................................................................................................................ 11 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE 1. Chief of Mission Priorities Recognizing Namibia as a democratic, stable, well-governed, upper middle income country, Mission Namibia will continue to forge a model U.S.-Africa partnership based on joint work and investment in advancing mutual priorities. There are four overarching lines of engagement to this model partnership, serving as U.S. Mission in Namibia policy priorities:  To promote American leadership through balanced engagement, we will support Namibia as it builds on its good governance for the benefit of the country and its people. With the help of the U.S. government and other international assistance, the Namibian government’s own investment in its people and the country’s future is poised to achieve sustainable HIV/AIDS epidemic control in FY20. Namibia’s communal conservancy approach to wildlife management also continues to be a model for the region. The government is actively tackling issues related to water management and energy generation, infrastructure, and administration of justice. Our public outreach, with its focus on engaging youth, will reinforce human capacity gains and continue to build people-to-people connections between the United States and Namibia.  To renew America’s competitive advantage for sustained economic growth and job creation, we will increase trade and investment opportunities and promote prosperity for both countries. By facilitating business relationships, offering targeted technical assistance, and advocating for a pro- business and pro-innovation policy environment, we will expand opportunities for U.S. businesses and reinforce AGOA benefits. We will promote economic diversification and development of a Namibian middle class interested in U.S. products through outreach on entrepreneurship, SMEs, and public-private partnerships. We will focus on the following industries where the United States maintains a competitive advantage: professional and business services, health, information technology, mining-related equipment, energy generation, and renewable energy.  To protect America’s security at home and abroad, we will strengthen our partnership with Namibia on regional and global peace and security. We also will expand our partnerships and engagements to deepen understanding of and support for U.S. policies. Residual resentments from the days of apartheid and the Cold War have dominated the Namibian government’s foreign and defense policy institutions, negatively impacting the overall level of trust in the United States. Furthermore, Namibia’s military has not yet reached its potential to contribute to global and regional peace and security. Our diplomatic work will focus on coordinating more closely with Namibia on international peace and security issues, including in international fora.  To ensure effectiveness and accountability to the American taxpayer, we will focus on the long-term durability and yield of our partnership through construction of a modern and efficient New Embassy Compound (NEC) that co-locates agencies and conserves water and energy resources. These upgrades also will ensure our ability to serve the growing number of American citizens visiting and resident in Namibia. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE  We are optimistic about Namibia’s future, but the country also faces challenges. A recent economic downturn, nearly 30 percent unemployment, and one of the world’s highest rates of income inequality pose challenges that have been exacerbated by a struggling education system, historically rooted social and racial inequalities, and the devastating impacts of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis epidemics. The country also is strongly affected by climate fluctuations and persistent drought, given the high prevalence of subsistence farming. We acknowledge some of these issues may slow progress in our policy priority areas; however, we are confident that Namibia is on a solid foundation and that our partnership efforts will succeed. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE 2. Mission Strategic Framework Mission Goal 1: Namibia builds on its good governance to promote opportunity and sustainability for the country and its people. Mission Objective 1.1: Namibia attains HIV epidemic control by 2020 through sustainable health systems. Mission Objective 1.2: Wildlife conservation, water management, and energy infrastructure ensure stability and community benefit. Mission Objective 1.3: Administration of justice protects people, resources, borders, and institutions. Mission Goal 2: Increased U.S.-Namibia trade and investment promotes prosperity in both countries. Mission Objective 2.1: Namibia and the United States expand mutually advantageous business relationships, trade, and investment. Mission Objective 2.2: Business-friendly policies and private sector development address income inequality, diversify Namibia’s economy, and increase trade and investment opportunities. Mission Goal 3: The United States and Namibia further strengthen their comprehensive partnership. Mission Objective 3.1: As a responsible democracy, Namibia continues to contribute to regional and global peace and security. Mission Objective 3.2: Expanded partnerships and increased engagements with the United States deepen shared understanding and support for U.S. policies. Mission Objective 3.3: The security and interests of U.S. citizens at home and in Namibia is protected through engagement with Namibia and vigilant, timely, accurate consular services. Management Objective 1: A New Embassy Compound (NEC) enhances interagency effectiveness and improves consular management controls. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE 3. Mission Goals and Objectives Mission Goal 1 Namibia builds on its good governance to promote opportunity and sustainability for the country and its people. Description and Linkages: To promote American leadership through balanced engagement, we will put forward Namibia as a model of the potential of good governance in Africa. With the help of the U.S. government and other international investment, the Namibian government’s own sustainable investment in its people and the country’s future is poised to achieve sustainable HIV/AIDS epidemic control in FY20. Namibia’s communal conservancy approach to wildlife management is a model for the region and environmental conservation and strengthened enforcement is resulting in diminished poaching and increased herd numbers. From the DOS Africa Bureau’s Joint Regional Strategy, this goal addresses: Strengthen Democratic Institutions; Promote Opportunity and Development. From the DOS-USAID Strategic Plan, this goal addresses: Promote American Leadership through Balanced Engagement; Ensure Effectiveness and Accountability to the American Taxpayer; Protect American Security at Home and Abroad. Mission Objective 1.1 Namibia attains HIV epidemic control by 2020 through sustainable health systems. Justification: Namibia has a generalized HIV epidemic with 12.6% of the adult population living with HIV. HIV/AIDS is estimated to have been responsible for 4,950 deaths in 2017 and is still the leading cause of death among adults and sixth leading cause of death among children under five years of age. PEPFAR works jointly with the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) to plan, implement, and monitor USG- GRN co-investments to achieve HIV epidemic control as outlined in the UNAIDS 90-90- 90 targets (and SDG#3: Good Health and Well-Being) and to foster a sustainable response. Namibia is one of the few countries in Africa that is the majority contributor to its national HIV/AIDS program – contributing more than 64%. While current GRN efforts to combat HIV/AIDS have been fruitful, PEPFAR investments have the potential to help Namibia reach UNAIDS epidemic control targets by 2020, serving as a role model for other African countries. PEPFAR plans to deliver up to 75% of program funding through indigenous organizations in FY 2019, and 90% in FY 2020, with the goal of long- term sustainability. Risks: Despite the success of the HIV program and the decreasing incidence and prevalence of HIV, the rate of infection is still high and without ongoing support and investment, Namibia will be unlikely to reach epidemic control. Therefore there is a critical need to provide ongoing support in this area. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 5 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Mission Objective 1.2 Wildlife conservation, water management, and energy infrastructure ensure stability and community benefit. Justification: Namibia is susceptible to higher-than-average risk in sub-Saharan Africa of cyclical drought and food insecurity because of the lack of freshwater resources, largely non-arable land, and increasingly unpredictable rainfall. Its economy is also heavily tied to that of South Africa, from which it also obtains the bulk of its energy supplies. Moreover, the sparseness of arable land and ill-defined property rights have translated into disagreements within and between communities and officials, and in some cases human-wildlife conflict. While poaching numbers have decreased in recent years, it is an ongoing problem that requires collaboration between the government and communities to control. USG programs will help Namibia increase its self-sufficiency in clean energy and responsible natural resource management in water and biodiversity. These efforts will positively affect Namibia’s resilience against both natural and economic factors. Risks: Without sustainable energy and water infrastructure, Namibia risks energy and water shortages due to external factors. Mission Objective 1.3 Administration of justice protects people, resources, borders, and institutions. Justification: The Namibian government has made efforts to improve the administration of justice, thanks in part to its cooperation with the Embassy. However, the justice system still suffers from a lack of resources and chronic delays. Many cases are thrown out due to inadequate evidence and procedural delays. This affects citizens’ faith in the judicial system and the rule of law, undermining stability. Furthermore, the weak ability of prosecution does not deter poachers and wildlife traffickers. This endangers the gains from U.S. investments in environmental programs over the past 20 years, and also emboldens transnational criminal organizations. U.S. Government programs will develop institutional capacity and improve the administration of justice, while also protecting Namibia’s people and wildlife from transnational criminal activity. Risks: Namibia has a long coast line and shares borders with South Africa and Angola making Namibia susceptible to illegal activity due to minimal enforcement ability at the borders or at seaports. Without appropriate administration of justice, Namibia risks being a greater victim of transnational criminal activity. Mission Goal 2 Increased U.S.-Namibia trade and investment promotes prosperity in both countries. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Description and Linkages: To renew America’s competitive advantage for sustained economic growth and job creation, we will build wealth through trade by developing strong economic ties that pull both economies forward in mutually beneficial ways. Pursuing enabling diplomatic agreements, offering targeted provision of economic policy expertise, and facilitating business relationships will expand opportunities for U.S. businesses and reinforce AGOA benefits. We will promote development of a Namibian middle class interested in U.S. products through outreach on entrepreneurship, SMEs, and public-private partnerships, and will advocate for a policy environment that is pro- business and pro-innovation. We will focus on the following industries where the United States is competitive: professional and business services, health, information technology, mining-related U.S. exports, and renewable energy. From the DOS Africa Bureau’s Joint Regional Strategy, this goal addresses: Spur Economic Growth, Trade, and Investment; Promote Opportunity and Development. Mission Objective 2.1 Namibia and the United States expand mutually advantageous business relationships, trade, and investment. Justification: Namibia is a small economy but there is room for both countries to benefit from increased trade. Namibia has not taken full advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and has limited capacity to proactively reach out to American businesses to establish cooperation. Our programs will promote new trade opportunities with the U.S. under AGOA and elsewhere. Because Namibia-U.S. trade does not currently constitute a large part of either country’s overall trade, failing to increase it would not have a significant impact. However, any success is worth pursuing as it could benefit both the Namibian economy and American companies. Risks: Namibia is in a recession, and if growth does not return in 2018, trade and investment may not be able to grow. The USAID regional trade program, the Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (SATIH) may not be able to conduct as many programs as previously depending on final budget funding levels, affecting the ability to provide technical assistance and training. Mission Objective 2.2 Business-friendly policies and private sector development address income inequality, diversify Namibia’s economy, and increase trade and investment opportunities. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Justification: Namibia is an upper middle income country with above-average economic policies and performance compared to the sub-Saharan region up until 2016. The country has one of the highest income inequality rates in the world. About 17 percent of the population lives in poverty, with 10 percent of the population in severe poverty. Unemployment is at 34 percent. However, Namibia’s economy is highly dependent upon South Africa (in part due to the currency peg between the South African Rand and Namibian Dollar); the market price of raw minerals that comprise the majority of Namibian exports; and the price of commodities, including energy, that Namibia purchases from South Africa. Despite active involvement in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), Namibia does not reap the potential trade benefits of these arrangements, and has only recently begun to pursue larger trade opportunities outside of the region. Namibia also is not taking advantage of AGOA preferences, although a number of opportunities such as the start of beef exports to the United States exist. Our programs will assist Namibia to improve the enabling environment for foreign direct investment and improve Namibia’s ability to reap trade benefits within the region. Partnership with other donors, notably the EU, will leverage expertise and increase harmonization of donor assistance programs. Risks: Namibia is in a recession, and if growth does not return in 2018, trade and investment may not be able to grow. The USAID regional trade program, the Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (SATIH) may not be able to conduct as many programs as in prior years depending on final budget funding levels, affecting the ability to provide technical assistance and training. Mission Goal 3 The United States and Namibia further strengthen their comprehensive partnership. Description and Linkages: To protect America’s security at home and abroad, we will work with Namibia as a responsible African democracy to promote a foreign policy of shared responsibility for peace and security and concurrence with U.S. interests in international institutions. Residual hostilities from the days of apartheid and the Cold War have dominated the Namibian government’s foreign and defense policy institutions, negatively impacting the overall level of trust in the United States. Furthermore, Namibia’s military has not reached its potential to contribute to global peace and security. Our diplomatic work will focus on aligning Namibia’s foreign and defense policies more closely with ours, including in international fora, through defense professionalization programs like IMET, and investment in the next generation of leaders through exchange programs. From the DOS Africa Bureau’s Joint Regional Strategy, this goal addresses: Advance Peace and Security. From the DOS-USAID FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 8 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Strategic Plan, this goal addresses: Promote American Leadership through Balanced Engagement; Protect American Security at Home and Abroad. Mission Objective 3.1 As a responsible democracy, Namibia continues to contribute to regional and global peace and security. Justification: Since independence in 1990, Namibia has maintained internal peace and stability and is recognized in Africa and, to a lesser extent, outside the continent for that achievement. The country has a history of democratic elections and peaceful transfer of power at all levels, including its presidency. Namibia can and should do more to transfer its success throughout the region. The Mission will actively promote Namibia’s story and work with the government to expand its efforts and activities to spread the Namibian model of harmony, peace, and stability. Risks: Discord between the United States and Namibia on foreign policy issues regarding regional peace and security could adversely affect progress on goals in other areas of the bilateral relationship. Mission Objective 3.2 Expanded partnerships and increased engagements with the United States deepen shared understanding and support for U.S. policies. Justification: Lingering suspicions of U.S. intentions stemming from the liberation era have served as a stumbling block in getting host-government approval for U.S. government projects that offer greater benefit to the Namibian people. UN voting shows Namibia siding with liberation-era supporters or forming a bloc with regional neighbors, rather than demonstrating democratic, responsible leadership. Through the key activities detailed below, the Mission will expand the U.S. image beyond that of just a public health partner. Namibians will better understand U.S. contributions to wildlife conservation, economic development, and professional capacity building. Engaging youth through educational and exchange programs will position future generations to be more open to cooperation with the U.S. government. Risks: If Namibia does not continue to strive for free press, open markets, and transparent governance that is responsive to the people, it risks regressing on its societal progress. Mission Objective 3.3 The security and interests of U.S. citizens at home and in Namibia is protected through engagement with Namibia and vigilant, timely, accurate consular services. Justification: Strengthening U.S. border security and protection of U.S. citizens abroad ranks among the Department’s and the nation’s absolute highest priorities, as reflected in Pillar 1 of the National Security Strategy and Objective 1.5 of the JSP. Given the potential for natural disasters or unrest, it is imperative that the mission strengthen crisis preparedness and evacuation procedures for U.S. citizens, to include establishing closer contacts with local authorities and strengthening communication with private FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 9 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE U.S. citizens. Namibia has signed the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption but has not enacted implementing regulations, resulting in a complete halt to intercountry adoptions to the United States. Risks: Poor collaboration with Namibia in the area of consular services may result in reduced U.S. security and harm to U.S. citizens abroad. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 10 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE 4. Management Objectives Management Objective 1 A New Embassy Compound (NEC) enhances interagency effectiveness and improves consular management controls. Justification: Currently, Mission operations are spread across six non-adjacent buildings scattered across Windhoek, greatly reducing the Mission’s ability to coordinate its programs and services effectively. In 2016, the USG concluded an option to purchase a parcel for a New Embassy Compound (NEC) that would house all USG agencies (except Peace Corps) and operations, increasing efficiency and reducing transaction costs. Consular controls will be improved via a more secure workflow for both employees and applicants. By 2019, the purchase will be finalized and the Mission expects to have a firm timeline for the construction and completion of a NEC. FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Updated and Approved: May 31, 2019 11