Note to our readers: Background Notes are no longer being updated or produced. They are being replaced with Fact Sheets focusing on U.S. relations with countries and other areas and providing links to additional resources. For archived versions of Background Notes, visit http://www.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/.
More information about Namibia is available on the Namibia Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-NAMIBIA RELATIONS
U.S.-Namibian relations are friendly. The United States participated in the diplomatic efforts to bring about Namibia's 1990 independence from South Africa and has since provided assistance to improve the well being of the Namibian people. The bilateral relationship is characterized by a shared commitment to democratic principles, including the rule of law and respect for human rights, and has been strengthened through programs to alleviate poverty and promote greater trade ties. The United States and Namibia are partners in the effort to improve health services, strengthen education, and expand trade and development opportunities.
U.S. Assistance to Namibia
Namibia is a focus country under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the United States and Namibia have signed a PEPFAR Partnership Framework. A strategy to implement the Global Health Initiative was also recently completed. USAID and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are the primary implementers of these programs. A five-year Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact to reduce poverty and accelerate economic growth entered into force in September 2009. It aims to reduce poverty through economic growth and funds development projects in the sectors of education, tourism, and agriculture. On average, there are 100-120 Peace Corps volunteers present in Namibia. The Department of Defense has provided professional development training to the Namibian Defence Force.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Namibia seeks to diversify its trading relationships which, for historical reasons, were tied to South African goods and services. The country is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Namibia belongs to the Southern African Customs Union, which has signed a Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative Agreement (TIDCA) with the United States. The TIDCA establishes a forum for consultative discussions, cooperative work, and possible agreements on a wide range of trade issues, with a special focus on customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and trade and investment promotion.
Namibia's Membership in International Organizations
Namibia’s foreign policy is heavily influenced by the positions taken by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the African Union, and the Non-Aligned Movement, of which it is a member. Namibia and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.
Bilateral Representation
The U.S. Ambassador to Namibia is Wanda Nesbitt; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.
Namibia maintains an embassy in the United States at 1605 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington DC 20009; tel: (202) 986-0540.
More information about Namibia is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
Department of State Namibia Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Namibia Page
U.S. Embassy: Namibia
USAID Namibia Page
History of U.S. Relations With Namibia
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Travel and Business Information
