The Namibian government has begun developing artificial intelligence (AI) and digitisation policies aimed at modernising public service delivery, reducing administrative inefficiencies and expanding access to government services.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said the policy development process forms part of efforts to integrate emerging technologies into government operations while strengthening local technological capacity and protecting national interests.
Speaking at the 16th Institute of People Management (IPM) Namibia Annual Conference, Ngurare said the public service had already initiated work on digitisation and AI policies to guide the adoption of digital technologies across government institutions.
He said the government needed to move away from traditional paper-based administrative systems towards digital platforms that would allow citizens to access services without having to travel long distances to government offices.
Ngurare identified the digitisation of application processes as one area where technology could reduce administrative costs, improve efficiency and make government services more accessible.
He said Namibian universities, students and technology innovators could play a greater role in developing software and digital platforms tailored to the country’s administrative and economic needs.
“Artificial intelligence should not mean adopting everything developed in Silicon Valley and simply placing it in our communities. We must also be at the forefront of developing and programming solutions that address our own needs,” Ngurare said.
He stressed that Namibia should not rely exclusively on imported technologies but should invest in developing its own AI applications and digital solutions.
Ngurare said locally developed technology could help address national challenges, including unemployment, while creating opportunities for young people with skills in software development and other emerging technologies.
“Technology should be used to address challenges such as unemployment rather than simply to communicate with one another,” he said.
The Prime Minister also called for greater investment in digital skills development to prepare public servants for the adoption of AI and other emerging technologies.
He urged human resource practitioners to ensure that employees received appropriate training to use new digital systems effectively, warning that introducing technology without developing the necessary skills would limit its impact on public service delivery.
Ngurare further emphasised the importance of digital inclusion, saying emerging technologies should be accessible to people from different educational and social backgrounds.
He called for technology to be explained and introduced in ways that communities could understand, ensuring that digital transformation did not exclude citizens with limited technological knowledge.
The Prime Minister linked the government’s technology ambitions to the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and Vision 2030, saying digital innovation and workforce development were important to Namibia’s long-term economic transformation.
He also highlighted the N$500 million National Youth Development Fund, established under President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as part of efforts to support youth entrepreneurship, innovation and economic participation.
Ngurare said stronger collaboration between government, educational institutions and the private sector would be necessary to develop the technological skills and locally relevant solutions required to modernise Namibia’s economy and public institutions.
