81310033-Support to Integrated Urban Development in Namibia

Namibia, with a population of about 3 million , is experiencing a rural-urban transformation with rapid urbanization taking place in all major towns. The population in urban areas increased by 65% between 2011 and 2023 (Namibian Census, 2023). In 2050 the urban population is projected by the World Bank to increase to 71%. Generally, towns are able to provide serviced land and housing for the very small middle- and upper-income groups, but struggle to cater for the majority of the population with low and ultra-low incomes. Namibia has consequently witnessed the formation, expansion and densification of informal settlements for decades. It is estimated that nearly 40% of the entire population live in shacks without recognised land tenure and access to only basic or no services at all. These conditions are further aggravated by a variety of reinforcing challenges such as poverty, lack of education, high crime rates, and insufficient health care. Residents living in these areas usually also have very poor resilience to environmental and economic shocks, which increases the vulnerability of the already poor and marginalized. The recent census has also shown that 2/3 of the population are under 35 years, underlining the severity of the 48% youth unemployment reported in 2023. Namibian politics has realised the urgency of the situation with the former president declaring informal settlements as a humanitarian crisis in 2018 and making the provision of serviced land, housing and sanitation a development goal in the Harambee Prosperity Plan II (2021 - 2026). Also, towns have realised the need for a more inclusive and pro-poor town development. But the transformation of informal settlements into liveable neighbourhoods is often a very complex process. Mainstream practice focuses on the development of new "greenfield" areas which might see informal settlement residents relocated to monofunctional areas at the outskirts of towns and with little access to livelihoods or socio-cultural activities. In-situ upgrading of informal settlements is often limited to provision of basic services, land rights and housing. Potentials for an integrated neighbourhood development with functioning public open spaces, climate and risk adapted developments, sustainable mobility for the reduction of future carbon emissions, and incorporation of livelihood opportunities are lost. The current planning practice needs to be improved in view of the enormous task to further develop informal settlements into liveable neighbourhoods for all its residents. The GIZ Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development II (ISUD II) project therefore aims to improve the pre-conditions for the transformation of informal settlements into liveable neighbourhoods (module objective). This is done through a multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach by directly working with the target group - the residents of informal settlements - but also through intermediaries in particular addressing the technical and managerial staff of the partner ministry (Ministry of Urban and Rural Development - MURD) and currently five partner towns (Windhoek, Rehoboth, Rundu, Helao Nafidi, and Opuwo). The objectives of the assignment are as follows: 1) Support the development of an integrated spatial framework in Namibia; 2) Support the development of an Urban Land Policy; 3) Support the implementation of the National Housing Policy; 4) Support the implementation of sustainable urban mobility; 5) Support the integrated neighborhood planning in Ndama, Rundu, and 6) implement selected small scale measures and neighborhood initiatives in the Ndama settlement. GIZ is seeking to procure the services of a contractor (consultancy firm or consortium) with relevant experience in urban and spatial planning, integrated neighborhood development.