The Erongo region has launched the Rural Development Forum to promote inclusive growth and improve the lives of rural communities.
The forum, launched at Swakopmund on Tuesday, aims to bring different stakeholders together to collaborate on developing rural areas.
Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses at the event said development must focus on people and must be felt at the grassroots.
She said policies should make a real difference in citizens’ daily lives.
“When we discuss rural communities, we should reflect on mothers who walk long distances to fetch water, young people looking for jobs, our farmers who depend on the land, and elders who need basic services,” she said.
/Goagoses said the forum supports the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and the National Rural Development Policy, which both advocate for inclusive and sustainable growth.
Although Namibia has made progress over the past 36 years, /Goagoses said inequalities between rural and urban communities persist.
“The fruits of independence must be felt equally at every village, every settlement, and every constituency,” she said.
She explained the importance of strengthening rural infrastructure, expanding economic opportunities, and promoting active community participation, adding that development is most sustainable when driven from the grassroots.
The forum brought together key stakeholders from ministries, non-government organisations, donor agencies, parastatals, and the private sector.
Erongo chief regional officer Mupenzeni Ntelamo said the forum would help improve coordination between different groups.
He said it would support resource mobilisation, the joint monitoring of projects, training needs assessments, and the provision of technical guidance to relevant directorates.
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