Background
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies of Namibia (MICT) on strengthening the national capacity on e-waste data and on developing policy instruments specific to e-waste. Namibia has made significant strides toward the development of a National Policy on the Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (e-waste), in response to the increasing volume of e-waste generated by households, businesses, and institutions. Following extensive stakeholder consultations and technical analysis, the Government of Namibia convened a national validation workshop to finalize the draft policy and ensure broad consensus for its implementation.
Held in November 2023 in a virtual format, the Stakeholder Validation Workshop brought together a diverse group of actors from national ministries, regulatory agencies, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector. The event was coordinated by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), with technical support from ITU and UNEP.
The workshop served as a platform for participants to review the draft national e-waste management policy, propose final inputs, and contribute to the refinement of its implementation plan. Stakeholders also examined budget estimates and discussed the roles and responsibilities of key actors in the policy roll-out. This inclusive dialogue laid the foundation for a national policy framework that is practical, locally owned, and aligned with Namibia’s broader environmental and development goals.
