The 2nd Steering Committee Meeting, held on 23 October 2025 in Windhoek, brought together representatives from key ministries, national institutions, and implementing partners to discuss progress toward developing Namibia’s National Water Reuse Strategy.
The meeting was facilitated by Heide Kerber (ISOE), with Maria Amakali (MAFWLR) delivering the opening remarks. She underscored the importance of wastewater reuse in tackling Namibia’s growing water challenges and welcomed the strong participation from cross-ministerial and institutional stakeholders.
Participants were reminded of the Committee’s role in providing strategic oversight for policy development, supported by Task Forces, the Round Table, and the Implementation Office. They received updates on recent project milestones, including outcomes from the 2nd Round Table and 5th Consortium Meeting, as well as technical progress on the Walvis Bay pilot and Oshakati demonstration plant. A major discussion point focused on whether Namibia should develop a National Water Reuse Strategy or move directly toward a policy framework. Consensus emerged that developing a strong, evidence-based strategy would lay the groundwork for future policy adoption.
Following deliberations, members voted to establish two priority Task Forces:
Policy Development Task Force – to coordinate the drafting of the National Water Reuse Policy and strategy formulation.
Review of International Water Reuse Policies Task Force – to analyze global best practices and recommend transferable models for Namibia.
These Task Forces will begin work in early 2026, with online sessions planned for January/February and an in-person meeting in April/May 2026. The Implementation Office will coordinate communication and engagement, while the project team continues collaboration with key partners, including the City of Windhoek and WINGOC.
In closing, Maria Amakali thanked participants for their continued commitment and highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum as Namibia moves toward a nationally coordinated approach to water reuse.