The Namibian National Parks Programme or NamParks Initiative:
The Namibian National Parks Programme or NamParks is a programme of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) of the Republic of Namibia. This programme was established in 2006 and is supported by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank. The first three phases concentrated on the Bwabwata, Khaudum, Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara (formerly Mamili) national parks in North-Eastern Namibia. Each of the NamParks projects consists of 4 to 5 result areas in which different intervention measures are to be implemented.
NamParks IV Programme
The objective of the NamParks IV Programme was to:
GOPA Worldwide Consultants, in association with LCE, were appointed to the NamParks IV Project, where LCE are responsible for the Result 1 intervention (Provision of Adequate Park Infrastructure) of the NamParks IV programme.
The existing facilities in these various parks were assessed against the needs identified by MEFT and the scope of the additional facilities to be provided was defined. Following approval by MEFT and KfW, concept designs for this infrastructure were prepared based on the standard / type designs prepared under the previous phases of the Project for the NE Parks. New standard designs were developed for the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park due to the coastal environment being so much different from that in the NE of Namibia (NE Parks).
Bwabwata, Mudumu, Mahango and Nkasa Rupara National Parks:
Following MEFT and KfW’s approval of the concept designs, detailed designs were prepared and then tender documents and specifications. LCE provided support for the tender administration and adjudication procedures and conducted the project management, contract administration as well as construction supervision and quality control.
Bwabwata National Park: A park entrance gate; tourist reception building; admin building; service block; vehicle store; common room; 10x 1-bedroom houses; 10x 2-bedroom houses; a visitor’s ablution block and a sports field were constructed.
The new park station at Bwabwata National Park was inaugurated on 31 August 2019 by Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, Namibia’s Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and Hon. Dr Gerd Müller, the German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, as reported on here and here.
A new park entrance gate, including office building was provided at the Kongola Police checkpoint.
Mudumu National Park: A ranger’s office; service block; vehicle store; 2x 1-bedroom and 2x 2-bedroom houses;, a park entrance gate, including office building and picnic spots were constructed. At Ngenda, a new 3-bedroom house for the Chief Warden; an extension to the existing administration office; a park entrance gate and alterations to the existing tourist reception area were constructed.
Nkasa Rupara National Park: 11 flood channel crossings totalling 950 m were designed, but not implemented.
Mahango National Park: New tourist reception building and new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant were constructed.
Khaudum National Park: Construction and installation of seven water points for wildlife.
Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park:
Infrastructure to support park management was required at Aus, Lüderitz, Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund around the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park as well as within the park itself. Following MEFT and KfW’s approval of the concept designs, detailed designs, tender documents and specifications were prepared and various infrastructure constructed.
Aus: An office and accommodation for MEFT staff were constructed.
Lüderitz: An office and accommodation for MEFT staff were constructed. A notable aspect of this project was the renovation of the historical Old Post Office building which was first constructed in 1908. The newly renovated Old Post Office building will be used as the MEFT park headquarters.
Rosh Pinah: Accommodation for MEFT staff was required as well as extensions to the existing office building.
Oranjemund: Accommodation for MEFT staff was required as well as extensions to the existing office building.
Other: Concession gates and signage were required at the “Rotkopf turnoff”, the Garub turnoff and the Obib Gate, together with park signage at the Aus Park Boundary, Lüderitz peninsula (together with a park entrance gate) and Kolmanskop turnoff. Multi-stakeholder traffic monitoring gates (for conjunctive use by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Namibian Police, NamDeb and MEFT) were required at Sendlingsdrift and Swartkop.
On 15 November 2019, the newly constructed infrastructure in the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park was inaugurated by Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, Namibia’s Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and Herbert Beck, the German Ambassador to Namibia, as reported here and here.
Key Design Aspects:
The architectural designs appropriately match and reflect the character and aesthetics of the different environments, and represent a sense of place, being born from the landscape. These designs further consider the different climatic conditions; generally hot and dry conditions in the North East of Namibia, with windy, damp, salty and corrosive conditions near the coast in the South West of the country. Overall, the designs considered the locations and orientations of the sites and individual buildings to provide for passive heating and cooling (shaded facades in summer and exposed walls and windows to the north in winter) and natural cross ventilation, and also considered the sustainable use of local materials (avoiding unnecessary transport and the resulting emissions) and the remoteness of the locations. Solar hot water geysers and energy and water efficient fittings and fixtures were provided in the accommodation facilities.
Environmental, Social and Health & Safety Compliance:
The measures and actions as set out in the Project Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, including the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) were implemented diligently and completely. The construction and operation ESMP developed for Phase IV of the programme was commended by KfW and will be used as a template for future projects. All occupational and public and safety provisions were consistent with national requirements and international good practice standards and were included in the construction contracts for appointed contractors and subcontractors to comply with. A grievance mechanism was developed for the general public and in particular the project affected communities and workforce.
Mentorship and Training Programme/Service Agreements:
LCE was assigned to safeguard the implementation of the dual maintenance strategy to enhance the sustainability of infrastructure investments made under the NamParks Programme. The dual maintenance strategy consists of the outsourcing of regular and preventative maintenance services for high-tech equipment for a period of 3 years and a 3-year training and mentorship programme for MEFT technical personnel.
High-tech equipment includes the wastewater treatment plants, potable water treatment plants, photo-voltaic systems, standby generators (gensets) and solar hot water geysers.
The mentorship programme is to provide support to Control Works Inspectors and other Senior Maintenance Managers of MEFT.
Location: Bwabwata, Mudumu, Nkasa Rupara, Khaudum and Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Parks, respectively in the North East and South West of Namibia
Project Value: N$ 196 million (estimated)
Construction Completion: 2022. Maintenance programme: Ongoing
Commencement: 2016
Further information on this project can be obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
