Evaluation of the performance, quality, and effectiveness of environmental impact assessment in Namibia
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Date
2025
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has become an important environmental
management tool used in planning and decision-making since the 1970s. However, its
effectiveness has come under scrutiny in developing countries, where systems are often
copied from developed countries with minimal consideration of the contextual factors in
the country of implementation. Environmental protection was enshrined in the Namibian
Constitution in 1990, and EIA was formally introduced through the Environmental
Management Act (2007) and the EIA Regulations (2012). Namibia's EIA system has now
been in place for over a decade; however, little research has been undertaken to review
the functioning of this system. This study aims to assess and evaluate the status,
performance, quality, and effectiveness of Namibia's EIA system and the extent to which
it is achieving the set goals of environmental protection and sustainable development.
Data was collected through literature review and document analysis, alongside surveys
and interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative
data using thematic analysis. The study reveals that Namibia has a functional EIA system
grounded in a good legal basis, a regulated EIA process and sound institutional
arrangements. EIA in Namibia has proven to be beneficial and has had a preventive effect
on some proposed developments. However, the study highlights several implementation
weaknesses including limited and inadequate scoping, public participation, monitoring,
and implementation of the EMP. Other areas that are lacking include a lack of guidelines
on public participation, strategic assessment, and enforcement. Based on actors’
perceptions, the EIA process is inadequate, only partially satisfies good governance
principles, with poor ranks on transparency and accountability. The EIA process also
partially contributes to good environmental decisions, learning, and sustainability. The
case studies analysis revealed notable gaps including deficiencies in addressing
cumulative impacts and poor review and decision making. These weaknesses and gaps
present an opportunity to improve the system. With timely improvements and targeted
legislation reform, EIA can effectively facilitate good environmental decisions and
sustainable development in Namibia. For improvement, the Government needs to
demonstrate political will and support by mobilizing national and international funding
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required for EIA system implementation, monitoring, and decentralising EIA services to
regional and traditional authorities. Such interventions can facilitate acceptance of EIA,
environmental literacy, and the emergence of EIA champions in communities
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture (Environment and natural resource management)
Keywords
Namibia, Environmental governance, Effectiveness, EIA system, University of Namibia