• Focus Tel and Tech

Namibia lacks policy, infrastructure to be AI-ready

• 1 Month Ago

While Namibia has no shortage of individual actors eager to drive artificial intelligence (AI) development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report concludes that much still needs to be done in infrastructure, policymaking and capacity building if the country is to reap the benefits of this transformative technology.

The report notes: “While existing ICT policies and the draft Data Protection Bill lay the groundwork, Namibia requires specific AI regulations and the creation of a national responsible AI institute. Addressing gaps in AI expertise among policymakers, raising public awareness, and ensuring effective enforcement of regulations are critical for fostering an enabling environment for AI.”

Lidia Brito, UNESCO’s assistant director-general ad interim for social and human sciences, warns that poorly managed AI adoption could worsen the challenges Namibia is already facing.

“In its current form, AI reproduces and amplifies many of the social challenges we face. It is unacceptable that around a third of the world’s population still lacks adequate internet access. Upstream, the AI industry is highly concentrated, with just two countries - the United States and China - and a dozen companies dominating the sector. This can only lead to greater inequality, including gender disparities. Non-diverse AI teams, unrepresentative datasets, and biased algorithms can cause harm, particularly to vulnerable groups, whether companies, individuals, children and young people, women, or entire democracies,” Brito writes in the report’s foreword.

She stresses that governments must ensure citizens do not end up on the wrong side of the AI divide: “We need capable governments, equipped with competencies, institutions and laws, to frame responsible AI development and protect the rule of law online. Developers, both public and private, must also be held accountable for putting human rights and freedoms first, above profits or geopolitical interests.”

According to Brito, Namibia will require a co-ordinated strategy that aligns economic development with the protection of human rights and freedoms. Although plans are under way to industrialise the economy with AI and to digitise public services that rely on personal data, Namibia currently lacks legislation to safeguard privacy. Protecting freedom of speech and expression will be equally important.



Namibia’s commitment

Sanet Steenkamp, Namibia’s Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring citizens are not left behind.

“Our government recognises that AI is not merely a technological shift, but a societal evolution. Namibia has therefore taken deliberate steps to lay the foundations for a digital future, ranging from advancing legislation such as the Access to Information Act, the draft Data Protection Bill and the forthcoming Cybercrimes Bill, to strengthening institutional capacity and promoting ethical principles through our engagement with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI,” she says.

She added: “AI is not only a driver of economic opportunity, but also a catalyst for a more informed, creative and connected society. This report is a call to action: to invest in skills, protect rights and ensure no one is left behind in the digital age. I urge us all to move from assessment to implementation, with boldness and responsibility, guided by our shared vision of sustainable development and digital justice.”



Report highlights

The UNESCO report assesses Namibia’s AI readiness across five key areas: legal and regulatory frameworks, social and cultural contexts, scientific and educational systems, economic structures, and technical infrastructure.

It identifies priority sectors for AI applications, including food security, water, energy, health, education, climate change, mining, security and logistics. Broadcasting and tourism are also flagged as sectors with strong potential for AI interventions.

The report acknowledges progress, such as the draft Data Protection Bill, the National Statistics Agency’s open data portal, and digital skills development initiatives within the draft national digital strategy. E-government projects like e-health, e-procurement, and cybersecurity efforts also reflect positive momentum.

However, persistent challenges remain: the absence of a formal AI regulatory framework, limited AI expertise, infrastructure gaps, and low public awareness. UNESCO concludes that greater investment in policy, capacity building, and infrastructure will be crucial if Namibia is to fully harness AI’s potential for national development.



Legislation, society and culture

The report stresses that AI-related legislation must safeguard privacy, freedom of expression, and protection from discrimination. Strong frameworks for transparency, accountability, and trust are needed, along with rigorous testing of AI systems used in critical infrastructure.

Socially, UNESCO urges Namibia to ensure digital growth is inclusive and sustainable. Expanding broadband infrastructure, improving internet affordability, and increasing access to devices in underserved areas are highlighted as urgent priorities.

The report also points to opportunities: updating Namibia’s National Gender Policy to reflect digital realities, and incorporating indigenous languages into localised AI strategies.