Policy, legal, regulatory and institutional review for sustainable transport in Namibia

Project details
Country: 
Namibia
Beneficiary: 
Ministry of Works & Transport (MWT)
Donor organisation: 
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Associated enterprises: 
Burmeister & Partners
Department: 
Transport & Mobility
Project volume: 
749,224 €
Currency: 
€
Value of services: 
742,724 €
Start of project: 
November, 2018
End of project: 
November, 2020
Project description: 

The Ministry of Works and Transport worked on a White Paper on transport policy, which was promulgated in December 2018 as the National Transport Policy (NTP), covering all models of transport. In public transport, it is evident that there has been a need to establish a new law governing public transport, to replace the Road Transportation Act, 1977, which was entirely outdated and not functioning properly.

The advantages of the new public transport system include the promotion of regional decentralisation, shorter turn-around periods for processing permit applications, and higher prominence of Minister’s role in developing national transport passenger policy and improved regulation of the transport industry. This policymaking and law making process involved, as far as possible, all role players and the public at large in identifying issues, generating policy options and discussing and accepting policy proposals.

The final project deliverable (Foundation Document) also provides detailed information on the public transport policies as well as the developed public transport legislation and its supporting regulations, which will guide public transport sub-sector development over coming decades.

Service description: 
  • Develop overall work plan and timeframe of the assignment;
  • Evaluate overall policy directive for sustainable mobility and develop national guidance and vision;
  • Spatial planning and infrastructure requirements for public passenger transport and Non-Motorised Transport (NMT);
  • Review of policies for urban, intercity, cross-border and rural public passenger transport;
  • Proposal for laws and regulations for public transport and NMT for Namibia;
  • Financial aspects of policy implementation;
  • Basic functional map with role assignments and institutional/ organisational/ capacity development, including a proposal for organisational setup (also considering studies for restructuring of MWT);
  • Review of national legal framework, including the Road Transportation Act (1977) and the Road Traffic and Transport Act (1999);
  • Prepare a modern public transport bill, taking into account best practices in similar environments;
  • Support the development of effective regulatory instruments and licensing system nationwide;
  • Further develop the policies and provide relevant advice on intercity, cross-border, urban (incl. formal and informal taxi and e-hailing services, electronic passenger information and ticketing systems) and rural public passenger transport, as required to translate into a suitable legal and regulatory framework (incl. prioritisation of regulations and other legal documents to be prepared);
  • Develop strategy for amendment and extension of existing institutions to fulfil functions required;
  • Define financing requirements and options, including PSOs and tariff systems;
  • Prepare a brief review of the proposed permit system being undertaken by the roads authority and the proposals of linkages and enhancements in respect of policy and financial aspects;
  • Implement countrywide stakeholder participation and consultation process;
  • Develop an implementation plan and proposal for a monitoring mechanism for the implementation; and
  • Prepare final public transport and NMT policy framework foundation document
Objectives: 

The project’s overall objective was to support the development of an appropriate policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework for sustainable transport in Namibia that ensures sustainable, safe, efficient and user-friendly mobility services nationwide. This included urban transport, inter-urban transport, and mobility in remote (rural) areas as well as inter-regional connectivity.

Key foreseen outputs and objectives included:

  • Drafting and support for of a comprehensive  formal public passenger (road) transport and urban transport policy for Namibia;
  • Drafting of corresponding public transport bill and related regulations;
  • Strategy for implementation of public service contracts (incl. a system of public service obligations for unprofitable routes); and
  • Strategies for improvement of urban and regional transport systems countrywide.
Currency: 
€