The Global Water Partnership (GWP) has appointed H.E. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, as its Global Champion for Gender Equality – a role dedicated to promoting gender-transformative water investments worldwide, including through the G20–Global Outlook Council on Water Investments’ USD10–12-billion pipeline.
Seated: H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia (middle), Mr Alex Simalabwi, CEO – GWPO, Executive Secretary of GWP (2nd from left), Hon. Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of Namibia (left), Ms Nchedi Moripe, Chief Director for Global Cooperation and Strategic Partnerships – DWS – South Africa, Vice Chair of GWP’s Steering Committee (2nd from right), Hon. Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform – Namibia (right). All images supplied by Global Water Partnership
President Nandi-Ndaitwah accepted the invitation during an official meeting at the Namibian State House with GWP, led by Alex Simalabwi, CEO of the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) and executive secretary of GWP, to explore collaboration between Namibia and GWP on the Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments, including mobilising priority climate-resilient water investments and scaling up gender equality.
The G20–Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, launched as a G20 Presidential Legacy Initiative, established the Global Water Investment Platform (GIP) to fast-track financing for water security worldwide.
Establishment of a Namibia – GWP Technical Working Group
A Technical Working Group has been established, led jointly by the Office of the President of Namibia and the CEO of GWPO, to co-ordinate the implementation of joint priorities, including:
- The Global Water Investment Facility for the Global Water Investment Platform (GIP)
- Mobilising partnerships for securing water availability for transformation of the Kunene Region in northern Namibia into an economic hub, including a multipurpose water infrastructure dam
- Integration of gender equality into water investment decisions – Namibia’s leadership will champion embedding gender equality and inclusion across all stages of investment design, financing, and implementation within the GIP pipeline and globally.
The Working Group will serve as the main platform to drive action and ensure tangible results under the Namibia–GWP collaboration.
GWP delegation meets with H.E. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the State House of the Republic of Namibia.
Championing gender equality in global water investments
As GWP’s Global Champion for Gender Equality, President Nandi-Ndaitwah will lead high-level advocacy to integrate women’s leadership, gender-responsive budgeting, and inclusive participation into global water and climate investments — with a focus on the G20, African Union, and UN processes driving the water finance agenda.
Namibia stands as a global model of gender-inclusive governance. It is the only country in the world where women occupy the top three highest offices of state – President, Vice-President, and Speaker of Parliament – and where women hold a majority of Cabinet portfolios. This positions Namibia as a living embodiment of the equality and governance values that GWP aims to advance globally.
“Gender equality is not only about fairness – it is about transforming systems to unlock innovation, productivity, and resilience,” said President Nandi-Ndaitwah. “Water is an enabler of inclusive economic growth. Investing in water drives progress in agriculture, skills development, youth empowerment, and job creation. Our focus must be on implementing concrete projects that change lives – such as the planned development of a dam in the Kunene Region of Namibia, which will support irrigation, livelihoods and community resilience.”
Source: Supplied by Global Water Partnership
