Evaluation of the performance, quality, and effectiveness of environmental impact assessment in Namibia
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 ii 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
Namibia, Environmental governance, Effectiveness, EIA system, University of Namibia
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations