Namibia’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) empowers communities to manage natural resources, but they’re often excluded from key decisions in sustainable development plan, particularly those that require Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) conducted for major developments that directly affect their land, water, and livelihoods.  The Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), together with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), recently led an intensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) inception workshop series across Kavango, Kunene, and Erongo regions. These workshops, guided by a unified agenda, aimed to strengthen the capacity of community-based organisations (CBOs) in understanding and influencing environmental decision-making. Participants explored environmental rights and advocacy, presented by NNF, and EIA regulations, as well as Environmental Management Plan (EMP) implementation and monitoring, led by MEFT, through presentations, breakout sessions, and regional planning dialogues.

The project is part of a long-term initiative running through November 2027 to empower communities in regions under environmental stress, from sand mining along the Okavango to mineral exploration in Kunene and infrastructure development in Erongo. While Namibia’s CBNRM framework gives rural communities a “say” in managing natural resources, it rarely extends this power to formal EIA processes, something this project aims to change.

A financial governance presentation was provided to the three associations outlining key grant management principles, ensuring transparency and accountability at the CBO level. In all regions, practical tools like the digital EIA tracker, simplified legal guides, and direct mentorship were introduced to bridge gaps in knowledge and participation.

Participants across the three regions showed varied understanding of EIAs. Interactive sessions and EIA focal points were widely appreciated; however, translating legal terms into practical, relatable languages remained a challenge. Many struggled to link policy to lived experience, highlighting the need for locally relevant, visual, and language-inclusive tools to help communities engage meaningfully in environmental decision-making.

Across all regions, the interactive format of the workshops was repeatedly highlighted as effective. Participants valued the ability to ask questions, share local experiences, and develop strategies specific to their contexts.  There was a shared recognition that real influence requires more than awareness; it demands structure, representation, and legal support. The introduction of regional EIA focal points was met with optimism, seen as a bridge between isolated communities and national decision-making.  As of yet, all the Regional Associations are in the process of appointing their EIA focal point person. One year after the inception workshops, the shift is visible. The project has moved from planning to power, actively mentoring Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) and convening key Multi-Stakeholder meetings, ensuring community voices are not just heard, but woven into every EIA decision.

For more information regarding the project, or the Community Conservation Partnerships and Safeguards (previously known as CBO Strengthening) programme, please visit the programme page here