The effectiveness of Namibia’s development framework – Lauren Davidson
In recent years, development frameworks and processes have been the subject of scrutiny for technical blue-print approaches, with their emphasis on inputs and meeting targets rather than on processes which achieve meaningful change. Conventional development planning techniques very rarely reflect the real challenges on the ground which lead to grandiose goals that are not attainable, […]
Growth opportunities through modern policies – Klaus Schade
The mid-year budget review and the necessary budget cuts have indicated that Namibia is going through challenging times. Economic growth will be subdued most likely not only this year, but also next year, because of the substantial drop in demand by government. However, there are a number of opportunities Namibia can exploit to position herself […]
The cost of bypasses – Martin Mendelsohn
Throughout the world business moves to people and to the traffic routes that carry people to congregate in certain places. This is particularly clear in many towns. Compare Okahandja and Otjiwarongo, which are similar in size. Drive through Otjiwarongo and one sees a bustling town centre with all sorts of businesses that have grown along […]
The need for additional inflation rates – Klaus Schade
NSA calculates the Consumer Price Index and the inflation rate on a monthly basis. The agency collects prices from more than 900 shops across the country for over 350 products. Average price change for each of these products is then calculated, and weighted by the share of total expenditure that the average household spends on […]
Namibia’s Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) Program, 1 year in – Jan-Barend Scheepers
The REFIT Program, initiated by the Electricity Control Board (ECB), was finalized in October 2015. This was reached with NamPower signing 14 Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) with various Independent Power Producers (IPPs). These IPP’s were selected based on the first to prove their ability to secure the required financial backing to implement, construct and commission […]
Why rating agencies are important
Rating agencies have received their fair share of flack this year, and with a slew of rating actions, not many of them positive, they have had their hands full. However, while it has been an active year for S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, they can at least take comfort in the fact that it’s not as […]
Investor confidence
Maintaining investor confidence is an absolutely critical condition for development, as without this confidence, investment, and by extension developmental progress, can be fast unwound. This is not to say that investor confidence is a sufficient condition for development, but it is unquestionably a required condition. Since independence, Namibia has been extremely successful in maintaining the […]
Reserves and the Namibian currency peg
Over the past few years, Namibia’s international reserve position has come under increasing pressure, as demand for Namibian currency by external parties has been severely outstripped by demand for foreign currency by Namibians. In 2015, the import coverage ratio (international reserves/monthly value of imports) fell to critically low levels, prompting hard currency bond issuance by […]
Tough times for consumers
The Namibia Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose from 3% in June 2015, to 6.7% in June this year, which has undoubtedly constrained the budgets of the average Namibian consumer. Although most salaries are adjusted in line with the inflation rate annually, which was recorded at an average rate of 3.4% in 2015, it has almost […]
Impact of a Brexit on Namibia
Last week Britain voted to leave the EU. The debate heading into the vote resembled a barren waste land of mud where the line between fact and myth was completely muddled. The aftermath of the vote wrought havoc on global financial markets. The uncertainty regarding Britain’s relationship with the EU has led to panic and […]