Finding out what is the current condition of housing, and then proposing what to do about it

An in-depth analysis of the national state of housing will be published before the end of the year by the Institute for Public Policy Research, with assistance from the German Embassy in Windhoek.

On Wednesday, the independent think tank, represented by its director Graham Hopwood, signed an agreement with the German Ambassador, HE Christian Schlaga for substantial financial assistance to conduct and complete a comprehensive survey on housing as a key sector identified in various development plans, and listed in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“At present, only limited publicly available data and in-depth research regarding housing in Namibia exist” the institute stated adding that the proposed research project will help understand housing better by making available detailed, well-researched and objective quantitative and qualitative data on housing to policymakers, the private sector, civil society and the general public.

The Institute for Public Policy Research hopes that their work on housing will contribute to an informed public dialogue on challenges and opportunities.

For this project, the institute will use its earlier work on housing, done in 2011, as a starting point.

A comprehensive review of housing policy and delivery focusing on government housing initiatives as well as non-governmental and commercial low-cost housing projects, will be undertaken, the Institute said, adding that improved access to serviced land and housing is a key outcome envisaged in the Harambee Prosperity Plan adopted in 2016.

Housing policy is an important tool for tackling poverty as it has a direct impact on people’s welfare through improving general living conditions and health.

The final report will be published under the title “Namibia – The Right to Housing”.

In the picture, the German Ambassador HE Christian Schlaga signs the agreement with the director of the Institute of Public Policy Research, Graham Hopwood with Dietrich Remmert on the right.