81322781-Integrated, inclusive and climate-smart spatial planning in Lüderitz, Aus and ||Kharas

Short project description: Namibia is currently preparing for the large-scale production of "green" hydrogen based on renewable energy. New wind and solar power plants are being planned by different companies in various areas of the Namibian desert to generate the necessary electricity. The coastal town of Lüderitz is in the center of a huge portion of these anticipated developments.

Over the next few years, the hydrogen project and other economic activities are expected to lead to a strong influx of national and international workers and job seekers - especially as the qualification profile of the locals is unlikely to be sufficient in many cases to meet the requirements of the new industries. The rapid influx of new inhabitants could therefore exacerbate the currently already tight land market and increase difficulties in the provision of basic services, such as difficult water supply situation; the same applies to electricity supply and waste management. The extent to which the economic dynamism in Lüderitz will benefit the local people - and not rather increase already existing inequalities, socioeconomic vulnerabilities, as well as their security risks - particular for women and children - and the existing inequality is therefore not least a question of the planning and negotiating skills of the local government and administration.

The foreseeable population growth also poses other challenges: An One informal settlement has already grown beyond the actual city limits. A further spatial expansion of the city is limited to the west by Lüderitz Bay and the Atlantic Ocean; an expansion to the east is currently being actively pursued by the city administration, but this is complicated by the neighboring national park and areas with mining rights for diamonds and requires the involvement of various stakeholders, especially national ones. Topographical and climatic conditions such as a hard, rocky subsoil and strong winds make urban development more difficult and infrastructure measures more expensive.

The planned expansion of the city limits also raises questions about the impact on environmental assets such as landscape, habitat and biodiversity. The same applies to Aus, the nearest community around 125 kilometres from Lüderitz, which currently has a population of around 1,066 (2011). Due to its proximity to the project area, the local population also expects new opportunities from the anticipated economic development.

Aus is not an independent local authority but is represented by the regional council of ||Kharas. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) supports the local government and administrative units of Lüderitz and Aus to manage the urban transformation process efficiently, sustainably and just through the project "Integrated Urban Development in Lüderitz and AUs (ILA)" implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). ILA runs from 06/2024 to 05/2025.

The envisaged Outputs are as follows: (1): Improved capacities for urban transformation processes, (2): appropriate spatial planning procedures for sustainable urban development, and (3): increasing benefits and minimizing risks for disadvantaged population groups. GIZ is seeking to procure the services of a contractor (consultancy firm or consortium) to elaborate/ update the urban structure plan and zoning scheme for Lüderitz and develop a spatial planning framework for Aus as well as support the development of a regional structure plan (focus on the area of Lüderitz and Aus). In addition, supporting policies and strategies should be developed to manage the potential influx of people improve consideration of environmental protection and adaptation to climate change through planning, and promote gender responsive planning.

All of these activities should be accompanied by capacity development measures for the partner institutions of the project.