The City of Windhoek: The City of Windhoek (CoW) has endorsed a partnership with the United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (Unitac). This is one of the highlights from the Municipal Council of Windhoek’s ordinary April Council meeting which took place in Windhoek on Thursday, as disclosed by a statement released by the City of Windhoek (CoW) on Friday.
According to NAMPA, the alliance is in line with CoW’s goal of becoming a smart city by 2027. The collaboration will support Windhoek in areas such as data and digital transformation strategy, citizen engagement, smart infrastructure planning, and leadership training. It also includes Windhoek’s participation in the Reimagine Windhoek Festival, planned for May/June 2025, which will engage residents and stakeholders in envisioning the city’s future.
The collaboration will facilitate the implementation of digitalisation, employee training, and several other initiatives through a newly established body. Through this partnership, Unitac will assist the city in implementing digital tools, training staff, co-designing smart governance frameworks, and strengthening interdepartmental collaboration via a newly established SmartCoW Interdepartmental Committee.
Unitac is an organisation that focuses on the advancement and implementation of urban technologies that help with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This collaboration is a significant step forward in elevating Windhoek’s profile on the national and global stage as a leading African city in smart, inclusive, and resilient urban development.
Another highlight is the approval of the upgrade of streetlights in Windhoek’s central business district (CBD). The upgrade is meant to make the CBD lively and beautiful to boost economic affairs. To create a vibrant, safe, and attractive environment that supports economic activity, social interaction, and community pride, the Municipal Council of Windhoek has approved a transformative project to upgrade streetlights in the CBD.