WaReNam: Advancing Water Reuse in Namibia: From Strategy to Implementation

The WaReNam consortium continues to make steady progress towards the development of a National Water Reuse Strategy for Namibia, combining technological innovation, governance development and capacity development within a Living Lab approach.

A key milestone in recent months was the 6th Consortium Meeting, where partners reviewed ongoing activities, aligned work across the project’s core dimensions, and reinforced collaboration across institutions and work packages.

Another important highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) on March 20, 2026 in Frankfurt. The MoU provides a framework for continued cooperation in joint research, capacity development and knowledge exchange, thereby strengthening long-term collaboration between Namibian and German partners.

Looking ahead, the next joint activities in Namibia are planned for June 8–19, 2026. During this visit, the 7th Consortium Meeting in Windhoek as well as the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting—providing strategic guidance and supporting policy development at national level—and the 3rd Round Table Meeting—serving as a platform for multi-stakeholder exchange and consultation—will take place. These meetings will focus, among others, on advancing the first structured draft of the National Water Reuse Strategy.

At the same time, important technological milestones are expected, including the operationalization of the Oshakati demonstration plant. Further progress is anticipated in the institutional embedding of capacity development, including the operationalization of an O&M unit concept. In addition, the planned launch of a Network of Local and Regional Authorities (NLRA) will create a nationwide platform for municipal exchange and peer learning on water reuse implementation. Overall, WaReNam is entering a phase in which technical validation, governance development and capacity development are increasingly interconnected, thereby strengthening the foundation for a coherent, scalable and implementable National Water Reuse Strategy in Namibia.