In March of 2009 flooding caused by heavy rainfalls affected six regions in northern Namibia. The floods affected sixty percent of the total population, destroyed critical infrastructure and houses, washed away crops and livestock, and caused widespread displacement. Around 50,000 people were displaced and 102 people lost their lives. The effects of the flood varied by region; Caprivi was most affected by flood levels, but the Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, and Oshikoto regions were most affected in terms of population. Many of those affected by the 2009 floods had not recovered fully from the heavy rainfalls in 2008 that had also caused destruction and dislocation.
Immediately following the relief efforts, the National Planning Commission (NPC) of Namibia requested the World Bank, through the GFDRR, to undertake a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) in coordination with the United Nations, the European Commission (EC), the Government of Luxembourg, USAID, and other partners, to assist the Government of Namibia in developing a holistic approach to recovery and reconstruction efforts incorporating long term sustainable disaster risk reduction. The PDNA, led by the Government of Namibia, estimated physical damages to be US$ 136.4 million, mainly in housing, transport and trade, while economic losses were estimated at US$ 78 million, mainly in agriculture, manufacture, and trade. The PDNA outlined a recovery and reconstruction strategy consisting of three phases: phase I (US$ 24 million) orearly recovery stage focusing primarily on social protection and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable segments of the population; phase II (US$ 137 million) or medium term recovery and reconstruction strategy concentrating on the recovery of sustainable production in agriculture, industry, and commerce, and on the restoration of livelihoods; and phase III (US$ 460 million)or ‘Build Back Smarter’ phase to (i) disaster and climate proof infrastructure and relocate population to safer areas, (ii) make efficient use of water for agriculture and flood management, and (iii) invest in long term disaster risk management.
The 2009 Namibia PDNA formed the basis for initiating (i) GFDRR supported flood-mapping exercise to identify areas at a high risk of recurrent flooding, and (ii) World Bank Group supported study on the Economic Impacts of Climate Variability and Change in Namibia.