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Government Consultation Workshop on the National E-waste Management Policy in Namibia, 31 October 2019, Windhoek, Namibia

BACKGROUND​

Namibia is experiencing a growing challenge in the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), commonly known as e-waste. Driven by increased digitalization and rising consumption of electrical and electronic devices, the volume of e-waste is expected to continue rising. Without a formalized national policy and management framework, the country faced growing risks to human health and the environment, along with the loss of valuable resources that could be recovered through proper recycling processes.
 
To address this issue, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) initiated the development of a National E-waste Management Policy. In support of this process, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is providing technical assistance to MICT to facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement and to align Namibia’s e-waste management approach with international good practices. The policy is being developed throughout 2020 and 2021 with consideration of the Namibian context and inspiration from successful e-waste regulations in the region. The policy endorses the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).​
 
As part of this collaboration, a government consultation workshop is being convened in Windhoek to bring together key public-sector stakeholders. This workshop serves as a foundational step in developing a shared understanding of the current landscape, challenges, and opportunities for e-waste management in Namibia, and to build consensus on a strategic roadmap for a national e-waste management system.


Objectives

​The government consultation workshop aims to convene relevant ministries, local authorities, and technical experts to engage in dialogue on the development of Namibia's National Electronic Waste Management Policy. The key objectives of the consultation are to:

  • Present an overview of the e-waste landscape in Namibia, including perspectives from both the private sector and local authorities.
  • Introduce participants to the key elements of sustainable e-waste management, drawing on global experiences and ITU's technical expertise.
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing on the environmental and economic importance of a formalized national e-waste system.
  • Identify stakeholder roles and responsibilities for implementing a national e-waste policy.
  • Build institutional capacity and gather feedback from participants to inform the development of a national roadmap.
  • Initiate cross-sectoral coordination to support the policy formulation and ensure alignment with national development goals and international commitments.​

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