Concessions in Namibia's Protected Areas by Andy Thompson

Concessions in Namibia’s
Protected Areas
Andy Thompson

Introduction
1. The Namibian concession
system goes beyond most
concession systems
2. demonstrate how concessions
in Namibia are used to
alleviate poverty, increase
employment & provide
formerly disadvantaged
Namibian’s with access to
capital
3. two examples of how
concessions will return much
needed benefits to
communities and support the
formation of the proposed
Kunene Peoples Park

Parks in Namibia
! 20 national protected
areas
! 13% of the land surface
! This may soon be 18%

The New Concessions Policy
Approved by the Namibian Cabinet in
2007

What makes this policy unique
Six Objectives:
! enhance & promote conservation
! control & monitoring commercial
activities
! increase economic value of parks
! promote economic empowerment of
formerly disadvantaged Namibians
! use concessions to promote
sustainable development, poverty
alleviation & employment creation
! support development of capacity, skills,
& access to capital for Namibians

Implementation progress
previously little concessions capability
new policy approved
concessions unit established
22 concessions
generates N$3m per annum
in recent months increased by
N$600,000
demand for new opportunities high
potential revenue very high with hunting
& tourism concessions - perhaps
N$20m per annum in five years

Award Processes
Tender process
Unsolicited
applications
Direct award process

Two Case Studies in the
Kunene
Hobatere
(landlord/tenant)
Etendeka
(community ownership)

Hobatere
land set aside 1970’s by Damara
people
since independence (1991) managed
by State conservation agencies
existing lodge operated for many
years
concession held by private tourism
operator
Approx 20 staff employed
no direct income for communities
lions eating stock
N$70k income for the State
last year 12 mth concession awarded
to local !Khoadi //Hôas Conservancy

Hobatere – the
future
A landlord/tenant model
20 year head concession issued by MET to
!Khoadi //Hôas Conservancy
operator contract issued by !Khoadi //Hôas to
Hobatere Lodge Pty Ltd for 10 + 10 yrs
Lodge owned and run by a private tourism
operator
estimated income between N$3.5-5m pa
fees set at 6%-12% over 10 years
25 local staff employed
Potential N$400k for !Khoadi //Hôas
Conservancy by yr7
Potential N$200k income for the State by yr7
structure of the arrangements agreed, contracts
being finalised
two other significant opportunities exist!!!

Etendeka
existing tented camp operating for 12 years
concession held by private tourism operator
six staff employed
no direct income for communities
N$40k income for the State
last year concession awarded to local conservancies
(Omatendeka & Anabeb)

Etendeka
A community ownership model
20 year concession issued to conservancies
capital raised for community ownership of:
– A redeveloped tented camp
– A fixed lodge at another location in the concession area
partnership between incumbent & new investor to run the facilities
35 local staff employed
N$600k for the two conservancies plus ownership of facilities
N$300k income for the State
based on 8% income from the land & 10% income for use of the infrastructure
operator guarantees min. loan repayments for conservancies
structure of the arrangements agreed, now we need to action this

Key lessons
! very pleased at willingness of
communities & operators to work
together
! a little bit of government capacity can
go a long way to unlocking
opportunities
! get good advice – at times these can
be complex arrangements
! government & communities need to
understand how concession systems
work, lots of learning & teaching
" Conflicts of interest, potential
corruption, slow processes can all
frustrate
! a few good concessions can make a
big difference

Thank you