Intervention by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the G20 Session on Global Resilience

Johannesburg, South Africa. 

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Disaster Risk
The African continent has renewed commitments, such as the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on advancing the Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025-2030.

As the cost of disasters increases and international assistance dwindles, more urgent and concrete actions are needed in the next five years to sustain progress towards achieving the expected outcome and goal of the Sendai Framework by 2030, thereby contributing to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our work on disaster risk reduction, climate change, and food security must be transformative. It also requires partnerships built on accessible finance and fair technology transfer.

Food Systems
Namibia is undertaking bold measures to transform our food systems and reduce our dependence on imports. Our focus is to reduce agricultural imports, strengthen domestic production, and build climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure with a strong focus on irrigation, water harvesting, storage, and rural value chains.

Our late founding president Sam Nujoma reminded us that a nation that cannot feed itself will never be respected. To accelerate transformation, therefore, we have revitalised our Green Scheme irrigation projects.

We are also modernising our livestock sector, which remains a backbone of rural livelihoods. Thus, Namibia stands ready to work with the G20 to ensure that resilience, equity, and inclusive means of production shape the world food system.

Climate Financing
Namibia needs approximately US$15 billion to meet her climate goals. With 90% of adaptation costs reliant on international support, Namibia is refocusing her efforts in her approach towards resource mobilisation.

Recognising that over 70% of Namibia’s population depends directly on agriculture, and that the country’s fragile water supplies are under immense strain, our country will consolidate all efforts into a single, high-priority national programme.

We will strategically combine integrated water resource management, groundwater recharge, and the expansion of drought-resilient agriculture and climate-smart irrigation.

Climate Change and Just Energy Transition
Namibia is creating a formal and attractive framework for investment and technology transfer in the green hydrogen value chain. Our goal is to build a full, investable ecosystem. We are proactively developing a pipeline of subsequent projects in green ammonia and sustainable fuels to secure Namibia’s position as a global hub for sustainable energy. We therefore urge the G20 to view Namibia as a vital strategic investment partner ready to work on our shared decarbonisation goals.

The era of deliberation without implementation must end. Namibia has the political will, transparent governance, and a proven track record. What we require are partnerships in finance and technological advancement that are commensurate with the scale of the challenges at hand.

As I conclude, Namibia is bidding to host one of two African regional hubs of the Green Climate Fund and would appreciate your support.

Thank you.

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