Yesterday marked the official launch of Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Connect, a national Community of Practice (CoP) designed to promote inclusive, rights-based approaches across Namibia’s conservation and development sectors.

Hosted in Windhoek, the event convened a diverse group of stakeholders from government, the financial sector, civil society, and community-based organisations, reflecting the multi-sectoral commitment required to embed ESS principles into project design, implementation, and long-term policy.

The CoP aims to create a shared national platform where practitioners and policymakers can co-develop tools, share best practices, and strengthen capacities related to ESS. It supports the integration of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), gender-responsive approaches, and transparent grievance redress mechanisms, ensuring that local communities, especially marginalised groups, are not only consulted, but meaningfully included throughout project lifecycles.

One of the highlights of the launch was a panel discussion featuring voices from community leadership, development finance institutions, and NGOs. The discussion focused on the intersection of finance, development, and safeguarding, emphasising that accountability and stakeholder engagement are not one-time activities, but critical processes that must persist across all stages of project planning and execution. It was consistently noted that communities must understand, not just be informed about, what is being proposed, reinforcing the need for accessible, respectful, and participatory dialogue.

A key outcome of the ESS Connect launch was the establishment of four Technical Working Groups (TWGs), each aligned with global best practices, particularly the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESS1–ESS10). These TWGs will serve as collaborative mechanisms for knowledge exchange, thematic guidance, and action-oriented dialogue, supporting the operationalisation of safeguards at both policy and project levels.

• TWG 1: Inclusive Conservation – Social Inclusion, Gender, and Indigenous Rights: Addressing social inclusion, gender equity, Indigenous rights, and cultural heritage (aligned with ESS5–ESS8)
• TWG 2: Environmental Risk, Climate, and Development Trade-Offs: Focused on risk assessment, pollution prevention, resource efficiency, and climate resilience (aligned with ESS1, ESS3, and aspects of ESS6)
• TWG 3: People at the Frontline – Labour, Safety, and Community Protection: Covering labour conditions, occupational health and safety, and protections for rangers and conservation staff (linked to ESS2 and ESS4)
• TWG 4: Stakeholder Engagement and Social Inclusion: Promoting inclusive participation, transparency, and conflict resolution (ESS10 and cross-cutting)

TWGs are designed as peer-led, voluntary knowledge platforms, supported by rotating facilitators and a central knowledge repository. Their work will produce locally contextualised guidance, tools, and training materials while ensuring alignment with international frameworks like the World Bank ESF, IFC Performance Standards, and the Green Climate Fund’s ESS policies.  By translating global standards into practical, Namibia-specific approaches, the TWGs will ensure that safeguard principles move beyond compliance, anchoring accountability, inclusion, and continuous engagement throughout the project lifecycle.

ESS CoP aspires to transform safeguards from a compliance obligation into a culture of accountability, equity, and impact. By prioritising peer learning, cross-sector collaboration, and continuous engagement, the platform positions Namibia as a regional leader in sustainable, inclusive development.  As the CoP evolves, its member-led structure will ensure it remains adaptive to Namibia’s shifting environmental, social, and economic landscape, anchored in community realities and national ambition.