The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was established to assist in reducing poverty in developing countries. They achieve this by supporting sustainable, transformative economic growth to create and maintain sound policy environments. The Millennium Challenge Account-Namibia (MCA-N) is responsible for implementing such projects in Namibia. The particular project supports the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) improve infrastructure in the Etosha National Park (ENP). The aim is to improve the living conditions of employees in the ENP, manage the ENP more effectively and allow the ENP and Namibia to be more competitive in the regional ecotourism market.
Aurecon has been appointed by MCA-N as the independent environmental consultants to undertake the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study required by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development (MET:DEA). The process will investigate if there are any potential significant environmental and social negative impacts associated with construction activities of two staff villages and associated infrastructure and services. It will also provide an opportunity for the public and key role players to give input and participate in the process, as well as for specialist input on specific aspects. A household socio-economic survey and census will be undertaken in the ENP as part of the study.
The infrastructure improvements being considered include:
- The construction/upgrading of the staff village and the management centre in the Southern Zone of the ENP (either at Ombika or Okaukuejo or both);
- The construction/upgrading to a staff village and a management centre in the Western Zone of the ENP (either at Galton Gate and Otjovasandu or both).
- Infrastructure to support housing development, such as waste water and water treatment plants, water and power supply, waste treatment facilities and access roads.
These general locations for the infrastructure investments have been pre-identified by the MET. It is proposed that management infrastructure, 19 junior staff houses, and 8 senior staff houses be constructed and 36 houses be renovated in the Southern Zone. It is also proposed that management infrastructure, 35 junior staff houses, and 8 senior staff houses be constructed and 9 houses be renovated in the Western Zone