From 18 to 22 February 2019 in Okahandja, the African Union organized a workshop for the Review and Development of Namibia’s National Strategic Action Plan on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The workshop was part of a multi-phase process launched by the Namibian Ministry of Safety and Security to review the execution performance of the 2005 National Action Plan (NAP) on SALW, identify and document key environmental factors in order to compile strategic issues, and develop a five-year National Strategic Plan on Arms Control, Management and Disarmament for 2019-2023. The workshop was attended by nearly 60 participants drawn from the various divisions and branches of the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL), the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Gender, Customs, the Namibian NGO Forum Trust, Council of Churches, Guns Dealer Association, and private security companies. Participants were drawn from the capital and different regions of the country.

The workshop formed the second phase of the process and its objectives were to: a) present the findings from the situational analysis and performance review to a range of national institutions and stakeholders; b) review and develop the vision core values principles for the envisaged National Strategic Plan; c) assess the key strategic issues that should be taken into consideration; d) develop strategic themes and objectives; e) develop Key performance indicators, establish baselines and set targets; and f) outline of the draft 5-year strategic plan.