Where We Work

The research was focused on the Omusati region of Northern Namibia, one of the poorest and most densely populated regions in the country characterised by low levels of infrastructure, high natural resource dependency dominated by mixed subsistence agriculture, with 99% of the population classified as rural. The north of the region where the majority of the population reside is characterised by small-scale subsistence cultivation and to the east is affected by the seasonal flooding of Oshanas. Further south, cultivation gives way to grazing and on the southern boundary, the Etosha national park. The region forms part of `Owamboland´, north-central Namibia, comprising eight closely related tribal groups (48% of the total Namibian population across four regions). As such the findings of this research have national relevance for the whole of the north-central region.

Of all the Namibian regions, Omusati provides an excellent case study for understanding the role of the elderly in contemporary natural resource based livelihoods. It has the joint highest proportion of pensioners (9%) and at 22%, the highest household livelihood dependency on pensions. Female headed households predominate within the region (62% of all households in 2001) largely as a result of a long history of male out-migration. Within Owambo society, institutional arrangements such as discriminatory inheritance laws and the traditional subordination of women further act as controls on the livelihoods of female headed household. The region was also selected because of its high HIV prevalence rate with 33% estimated to be infected.

Three contrasting study constituencies were selected, each falling within different tribal authorities and with a different Council representative:

• Tsandi Constituency: In the west of Omusati governed by the Kwaluudhi tribal authority and dominated by subsistence agriculture. The presence of the Uukwaluudhi Conservancy in the area potentially offers alternative livelihood opportunities to residents (Naanda 1998).
• Outapi Constituency: Contains the major settlement Outapi that is the centre of regional governance and the most densely populated Constituency in the region and the beneficiary of limited infrastructure investments.
• Okahao Constituency: Located to the south of the region that is the home to the village of the former Namibian President, Sam Nujoma. Rural settlements in this Constituency extend down to Etosha National Park.