1.3 National and Millennium Development Goals and Targets

The GRN has put in place a series of national strategic frameworks for guiding development processes and for implementing economic and social development programmes. The overarching framework for the government’s development planning, Vision 2030, aims to transform Namibia from a lower-middle income country to a highly developed nation by 2030. The vision is to be achieved through a series of seven five-year development plans. In NDPI (1995/96 to 1999/00), the key policy objectives were poverty reduction; sustained economic growth; employment creation and the reduction of income inequality. These overall objectives are also included in NDPII (2001/02 to 2005/06), with three new objectives added: economic empowerment; the reduction of regional inequalities; and, gender equality and equity. NPRAP focuses on poverty reduction for 2001 to 2005 in accordance with NDPII and the Public Sector Investment Plan.

Namibia’s 2004 MDG Report (MDGR) will be launched just prior to the completion of this CCA. As such, this CCA has not recreated the assessment of Namibia’s status with respect to the MDGs, but rather is intended for use in tandem with the MDGR.

National and Millennium Development Goals and Targets

GOAL 1992 2003 2006 target Progress towards target

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Proportion of households living in relative poverty 38% - 28% Lack of data*

Proportion of households living in extreme poverty 9% - 4% Lack of data*

2. Achieve universal primary education

Net primary school enrolment 89% 92% 95% Good

Survival rate for Grade 5 75% 4%

Literacy rate, 15-24 years 89% 89%

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

Primary education (girls per 100 boys) 102 100 100 Good

Secondary education (girls per 100 boys) 124 113 100 Good

Tertiary education (girls per 100 boys) 162 111 100 Good

Proportion of seats held by women in National Assembly 9% 19% 30% Slow

4. Reduce child mortality

Infant mortality (per 1000 live births) 67 52 36 Slow

Under-five mortality rate (per 1000 live births) 87 71 54 Slow

Proportion of 1-year-old children immunised against measles 63% 72% 80% Good

Underweight among children under five 26% 24% 17% Slow

5. Improve maternal health

Proportion of births attended by trained health personnel 68% 75% 88% Good

Contraceptive prevalence rate 21% 37% 50% Good

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

HIV prevalence among 13-19 year old women 6% 11% 9% Worsening

HIV prevalence among 20-24 year old women 11% 22% 15% Worsening

TB treatment success rate 58% 69% 75% Good

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

Proportion of rural households with access to safe drinking water 45% 80% 80% Good

Proportion of rural households with access to basic sanitation 15% 21% 50% Slow

Freehold land 5% 6.1% 8.5% Slow

Registered conservancies 0% 4.9% 10.9% Slow

8. Develop a global partnership for development

Per capita overseas development assistance to Namibia (in US$) 130 60 90 Worsening

Note: The table provides a quick overview of progress on selected targets for each of the eight MDGs. The data is grouped to represent the closest year to 1992, 2003 and the medium-targets for 2006. The last column assesses progress against the medium-term target. Good means that if the rate of progress seen since the early 1990s continues then the target will be met. Slow means that the progress since the early 1990s has been positive but is not strong enough to reach the 2006 target. Worsening means that the situation has deteriorated since the early 1990s.
* A new Household Income and Expenditure Survey will be finalised in 2004 which will update the income poverty figures.

Although some of the necessary data is out-of-date or missing altogether it should be recognised that Namibia is making good progress towards several MDGs: achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women and ensuring environmental sustainability, as well as in components of three others. In the area of combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, progress is worsening.

National and Millennium Development Goals and Targets
GOAL	1992	2003	2006 target	Progress towards target

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Proportion of households living in relative poverty	38%	-	28%	Lack of data*
Proportion of households living in extreme poverty	9%	-	4%	Lack of data*
2. Achieve universal primary education
Net primary school enrolment	89%	92%	95%	Good
Survival rate for Grade 5	75%	4%
Literacy rate, 15-24 years	89%	89%
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
Primary education (girls per 100 boys)	102	100	100 Good
Secondary education (girls per 100 boys)	124	113	100	Good
Tertiary education (girls per 100 boys)	162	111	100	Good
Proportion of seats held by women in National Assembly	9%	19%	30%	Slow
4. Reduce child mortality
Infant mortality (per 1000 live births)	67	52	36	Slow
Under-five mortality rate (per 1000 live births)	87	71	54	Slow
Proportion of 1-year-old children immunised against measles	63%	72%	80%	Good
Underweight among children under five	26%	24%	17%	Slow
5. Improve maternal health
Proportion of births attended by trained health personnel	68%	75%	88%	Good
Contraceptive prevalence rate	21%	37%	50%	Good
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
HIV prevalence among 13-19 year old women	6%	11%	9%	Worsening
HIV prevalence among 20-24 year old women	11%	22%	15%	Worsening
TB treatment success rate	58%	69%	75%	Good
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
Proportion of rural households with access to safe drinking water	45%	80%	80%	Good
Proportion of rural households with access to basic sanitation	15%	21%	50%	Slow
Freehold land	5%	6.1%	8.5%	Slow
Registered conservancies	0%	4.9%	10.9%	Slow
8. Develop a global partnership for development
Per capita overseas development assistance to Namibia (in US$)	130	60	90	Worsening
Note: The table provides a quick overview of progress on selected targets for each of the eight MDGs. The data is grouped to represent the closest year to 1992, 2003 and the medium-targets for 2006. The last column assesses progress against the medium-term target. Good means that if the rate of progress seen since the early 1990s continues then the target will be met. Slow means that the progress since the early 1990s has been positive but is not strong enough to reach the 2006 target. Worsening means that the situation has deteriorated since the early 1990s. * A new Household Income and Expenditure Survey will be finalised in 2004 which will update the income poverty figures.