Windhoek: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in collaboration with various stakeholders, on Monday launched a national workshop on disaster approaches in Windhoek.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the two-day workshop is being held under the theme 'Environmental stewardship and gender mainstreaming: building state resilience to shocks and disasters', which aims to transform approaches to natural disasters, climate extremes, pandemics and economic upheavals.

Speaking during the official opening, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare underscored that recent crises, including the 2023-2025 drought, infrastructure damage, the Etosha wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that national resilience depends on the interconnected efforts of all government bodies. He said this requires sharper focus, stronger commitment and more deliberate coordination. Ngurare added that the approach also requires empowering local engineers to build, rehabilitate and maintain critical infrastructure, which is fundamental to national interest and security.

The Prime Minister further urged the government and private sectors to unite in building environmental resilience.

The Executive Director in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Sikongo Haihambo, emphasised that Namibia's vulnerability to natural disasters requires a unified, cross-sectoral response.

'Namibia's exposure to droughts, floods, wildfires, and health crises demands a united, cross-sector approach. Our Ministry's responsibilities, biodiversity, ecosystems, natural resources, and gender inclusion place us at the forefront of resilience-building efforts that can make a real difference,' Haihambo added.

Haihambo further noted that disasters such as the 2025 Etosha wildfires have served as a cornerstone for exploring innovative financing mechanisms and developing actionable strategies to embed resilience in approaches to natural disasters.