Institute for Public Policy Research — policy research organisation that advocates for government transparency, financial accountability, and governance reforms in Namibia.
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)is advocating forNamibia to become a part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
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“the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is advocating for Namibia to become a part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).”
Institute for Public Policy ResearchtitledOctober 2020 report 'Depleting Natural Capital: How Namibia has been Losing Wildlife, Forests and Sand Through Misgovernance and Maladministration Since 2005'
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“A October 2020 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research titled 'Depleting Natural Capital: How Namibia has been Losing Wildlife, Forests and Sand Through Misgovernance and Maladministration Since 2005' notes that illegal and unregulated sand mining is increasing in Namibia, becoming a major environmental concern.”
IPPR executive director Graham Hopwoodsaidjoining EITI is crucial for Namibia at this moment
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“"This is really crucial for Namibia, and crucial for Namibia at this moment in history," says Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) executive director Graham Hopwood.”
Institute for Public Policy Researchhighlights thatyouth turnout is unpredictable and significantly low in urban centres
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“Research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) highlights that youth turnout is unpredictable and significantly low, particularly in urban centres, signalling a political system out of touch with citizens' expectations.”
Institute for Public Policy Researchpublished reporton illegal sand mining as environmental concern
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“An October 2020 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research entitled 'Depleting Natural Capital: How Namibia has been losing wildlife, forests and sand through misgovernance and maladministration since 2005', says illegal and unregulated sand mining was getting out of hand in Namibia and had become a major environmental concern, as unreclaimed sand pits pose a danger to humans, livestock and wildlife.”
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)urgedpresident Hage Geingob not to accept an award by the Africa Energy Chamber
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“The presidency launched a personal attack on the director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Graham Hopwood, who urged president Hage Geingob not to accept an award by the Africa Energy Chamber (AEC) at a conference in Cape Town last week.”
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) executive director Graham Hopwoodsaid there is a need fora joint letter to the Presidency demanding publication of the agreement
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“Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), executive director Graham Hopwood recently said there is a need for a joint letter to the Presidency demanding the publication of this agreement.”
Mathews Hamutenya has denied having political connections to State House or involvement in the government's decision to appoint Vitol as Namibia's sole fuel supplier, though his son recently bought 52 service stations and Hamutenya is a partner in a storage facility with Vitol. The Independent Patriots for Change have linked Hamutenya to what they describe as a "conglomerate at the centre of Namibia's petroleum oil takeover."
Why it matters
New detail on businessman's connections to Vitol fuel deal advances ongoing investigation into conflicts of interest in critical commodity supply.
Mathews Hamutenya has denied having political connections to State House or involvement in the government's decision to appoint Vitol as Namibia's sole fuel supplier, though his son recently bought 52 service stations and Hamutenya is a partner in a storage facility with Vitol. The Independent Patriots for Change have linked Hamutenya to what they describe as a "conglomerate at the centre of Namibia's petroleum oil takeover."
The Institute for Public Policy Research has warned that financial pressure and digital disruption are weakening Namibia's media sector, calling for funding models such as grants, public interest funds, and tax incentives to sustain quality reporting, as well as transparent advertising policies from government and state-owned enterprises.
Six years after the Fishrot scandal, Namibia's fisheries sector remains governed by excessive secrecy with no publicly accessible register of fishing rights holders, quota allocations, or beneficial owners. The same structural weaknesses that enabled the fraud—concentrated discretionary powers, opaque allocation processes, and 'paper quota holders' profiting without investment—remain largely intact, requiring political will to implement transparency reforms.
The final draft of Namibia's cybercrime bill contains multiple shortcomings including undefined terms around computer viruses, cyberbullying, and obscene images that could lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and inadequate victim protection. The author argues the bill should be improved before parliamentary submission, citing concerns that key provisions lack clarity, may inhibit online speech, and could create practical enforcement problems.
On Swapo's 66th anniversary, party leader Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah stated that while the party's liberation struggle history is important, it alone cannot carry the party forward as people now expect tangible improvements in jobs, housing, healthcare, and education. Political analysts noted Swapo's waning electoral support over recent elections due to corruption and declining leadership quality, though the party remains the country's strongest with functional regional structures.
The Institute for Public Policy Research has criticized the government's decision to bypass the Central Procurement Board on N$350 million in projects, arguing it creates risks of corruption and waste. The government has directly awarded contracts including a N$140-million sports stadium project to the Roads Contractor Company and other projects to August 26 without public tendering, a practice that lacks transparency and limits competition for local businesses.
Civil society organisations have accused the government of lack of transparency on oil and gas information access, with various agencies declining to provide petroleum licence details and citing organisational restructuring. Multiple officials and institutions have refused to respond to inquiries, prompting warnings that withholding critical sector information undermines public trust and the right to know.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to announce eight new deputy ministers and appoint deputy defence minister Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency. The move comes despite her earlier decision to cut ministries and reduce Cabinet size, with critics and analysts warning that some merged ministries may now be too large to function effectively.
Namibia's 2026/27 budget reflects finance minister Ericah Shafudah's fiscal caution as the country awaits a final investment decision on TotalEnergies' Venus oil project, expected mid-2026. Economist Robin Sherbourne described the budget as a "holding operation" in a constrained economic outlook, though he warned that reduced development spending may limit growth despite the budget's focus on "People, Productivity and Prudence."
A proposed hydrogen production facility in Namibia's Tsau ||Khaeb National Park promises jobs and clean energy exports, but conservationists warn it risks harming endangered wildlife like African penguins and unique desert plants, while local activists raise concerns about community engagement and respect for sites of colonial genocide.
The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia faces governance risks as it prepares for oil production, citing lack of transparency in petroleum licensing, insufficient beneficial ownership disclosure, and weak local content oversight as key areas needing reform before the expected investment decisions from TotalEnergies and Mopane projects. Addressing these challenges through the Access to Information Act and digital transparency could help Namibia avoid the "resource curse" while ensuring oil revenues benefit communities rather than political elites.
A major hydrogen production facility planned for Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park promises jobs and economic growth but risks damaging endangered wildlife like African penguins and unique desert plants, prompting conservationists to warn of impacts on biodiversity despite Hyphen's commitments to minimise disturbance.
The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia's preferential procurement policy risks abuse without greater transparency and accountability measures. The IPPR calls for data collection on preference-based contracts and stricter compliance, citing poor submission rates of procurement plans by public entities.
Minister Emma Theofelus has halted the recruitment of an information commissioner, citing insufficient stakeholder consultations on the operationalisation of the Access to Information Act. Critics including the IPC and policy experts express concern that the delay is hindering implementation of the transparency law, though budget allocation for 2026/2027 suggests the pause may be temporary.
Economist Robin Sherbourne cautions that anticipated oil revenues from TotalEnergies' Venus project could enable Namibia to borrow heavily against future earnings, risking unsustainable public spending rather than supporting long-term growth. He urges the finance minister to maintain fiscal restraint as the country awaits a final investment decision on the project.
According to IPPR research, Namibian political parties are projected to receive N$1.6 billion in state funding between 2020 and 2030, an amount the institute describes as disproportionate given the country's unemployment and poverty. The IPPR's report on political finance transparency calls for greater disclosure requirements and stronger regulations to prevent external interference in elections before the next polls.
The Institute for Public Policy Research has submitted concerns to the government that the proposed cybercrime bill, currently undergoing stakeholder consultation, contains provisions that could infringe on privacy, freedom of expression, and expand surveillance beyond constitutional limits. The IPPR warns that the bill's language on digital surveillance, investigator access to electronic data, and the vague concept of "public interest" could negatively affect journalists, IT professionals, researchers, and civil society.
Namibia's incoming information commissioner will earn N$120,000 monthly plus extensive benefits, exceeding the prime minister's estimated salary. The role, created to implement the Access to Information Act and strengthen public procurement transparency, will be filled through a formal recruitment process advertised by parliament.
The Institute for Public Policy Research is advocating for Namibia to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), citing the need for greater transparency and accountability in oil, gas, and mineral resource extraction. Namibia has failed to meet EITI standards, which include contract transparency and beneficial ownership disclosure, gaps that hinder public tracking of extraction ventures and create room for corruption concerns.
Opposition leader Imms Nashinge has called on the government to pass legislation regulating Namibia's sovereign wealth fund, which has been operating for three years without a dedicated legal framework. He asked the Prime Minister for clarity on existing laws governing the fund and pressed for robust provisions ensuring public transparency and parliamentary oversight before the bill's passage.
Namibia's amended Environmental Management Act will extend legal protections to ecosystems like natural springs and habitats previously unprotected, and set standards for noise, smell, water and air quality. The ministry is consulting on proposed sand and gravel mining regulations and has flagged unprecedented illegal sand mining as a major environmental concern, attributing it to weak management, corruption, and insufficient enforcement.
The Institute for Public Policy Research has called on Namibia to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a framework requiring disclosure of information on oil, gas and mineral resources throughout the value chain. The EITI was listed as a goal in Namibia's second Harambee Prosperity Plan but was never implemented, though compliance would address current gaps in contract transparency, beneficial ownership disclosure, and revenue reporting.
Information Minister Emma Theofelus announced that parastatals under the information ministry will have their subsidies reduced by 3% annually for the next three years, with government expecting them to develop alternative revenue streams and achieve greater financial independence while still meeting public service mandates.
A youth advocate argues that low voter turnout in recent local and regional council elections reflects accumulated frustration with broken promises and poor service delivery rather than apathy, citing youth unemployment of 44.4% nationally and direct complaints from young people across the country who say leaders ignore their concerns between elections.
The Uukwambi Traditional Authority has started rehabilitating sand-mined borrow pits in its jurisdiction, including at Onatshiku village in Oshana region, after residents questioned the delay. The authority must submit detailed rehabilitation plans to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for approval, and is responsible for funding the work, which operators can carry out using their equipment.