Evaluating the performance and procedural effectiveness of Namibia's Environmental Impact Assessment system

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating the performance and procedural effectiveness of Namibia's Environmental Impact Assessment system

AU - Nakwaya-Jacobus, Dietlinde N.

AU - Hipondoka, Martin

AU - Angombe, Simon

AU - Stringer, Lindsay C.

AU - Dougill, Andrew J.

N1 - © 2021 Elsevier Inc. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.

PY - 2021/11/1

Y1 - 2021/11/1

N2 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Namibia was formally introduced in 2007. However, little EIA related research has been undertaken and the system has not been formally reviewed. This paper evaluates the performance and effectiveness of the EIA system in Namibia. The criteria used for the evaluation were obtained from several sources in the literature and based on legal, administrative, and procedural frameworks. Data were collected through literature review, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The study revealed that Namibia has a functional EIA system based on fairly good legislation, institutional arrangements and a well outlined EIA process. Analysis of the legislation and administrative frameworks nevertheless highlighted several weaknesses including a lack of coherence in the legislation and poor implementation. Further weaknesses included a lack of monitoring and enforcement capacity, weak communication and information sharing, inadequate financial and human resources, and inappropriate public consultation approaches. It was found that EIA is slowly being accepted in Namibia and it has a preventative effect on proposed developments. The study recommends an urgent need to complete the ongoing legislative reform to close existing gaps and to improve the performance of the EIA system.

AB - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Namibia was formally introduced in 2007. However, little EIA related research has been undertaken and the system has not been formally reviewed. This paper evaluates the performance and effectiveness of the EIA system in Namibia. The criteria used for the evaluation were obtained from several sources in the literature and based on legal, administrative, and procedural frameworks. Data were collected through literature review, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The study revealed that Namibia has a functional EIA system based on fairly good legislation, institutional arrangements and a well outlined EIA process. Analysis of the legislation and administrative frameworks nevertheless highlighted several weaknesses including a lack of coherence in the legislation and poor implementation. Further weaknesses included a lack of monitoring and enforcement capacity, weak communication and information sharing, inadequate financial and human resources, and inappropriate public consultation approaches. It was found that EIA is slowly being accepted in Namibia and it has a preventative effect on proposed developments. The study recommends an urgent need to complete the ongoing legislative reform to close existing gaps and to improve the performance of the EIA system.

KW - Effectiveness

KW - EIA system

KW - Namibia

KW - Performance

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113375252&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.eiar.2021.106670

DO - 10.1016/j.eiar.2021.106670

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85113375252

SN - 0195-9255

VL - 91

JO - Environmental Impact Assessment Review

JF - Environmental Impact Assessment Review

M1 - 106670

ER -