A critical appraisal of the national housing policy reform and its implementation of the Build Together programme within the Khomas region (1991-2002)
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Date
2003
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Abstract
The housing sector is no exception. The sector indeed experiences the dual role of being the target of people-centred social welfare reform whilst, at the same time, functioning as the driving agent of change in close co-operation with the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing (MRLGH). In implementing one of the core areas of their mission, such as housing under condition of politico-economic and socio-cultural change, the MRLGH established the first National Housing Policy (NHP) in 1991. In anticipation of rural-urban migration and subsequent rapid urbanisation of core areas of development (i. e. Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Oshakati), the NHP fostered the institutionalisation of housing schemes for marginalised Namibians in an attempt to respond to the tremendous housing needs. Within the legal framework of the Housing Decentralisation Act, non governmental institutions like the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) together with the parastatal National Housing Enterprise (NHE) contribute to the provision of housing, approaching the issue from their different strategies. Operation-driven concepts such as the Build-Together-Programme complement the implementation of the NHP
Since its inception (1992-1998) the Build-Together-Programme (BTP) gained a number of complex experiences, both conceptually and technically. Facilitators and recipients alike as agents in the housing reform are inclined to revisit the BTP in order to seriously appraise the programme's objectives and targets, trying to make the BTP in Namibia's second National Development Plan to become cost effective and sustainable
This study examines aspects of the reforms that took place together with lessons learnt while implementing the BTP from 1992 until 1998. It deliberates on the prospects thc programme might have after the revision. Deliberations and findings involve the interface of political intention and factual transmission, carefully monitored with the assistance of open interviews, sampled from all constituencies concerned
Description
Includes bibliographical references
Keywords
Housing development namibia, Housing, Community based projects