One social worker for every 17 923 children, NDP6 flags capacity gap in child protection

Namibia has only one social worker for every 17 923 children—a ratio flagged in NDP6 as a major barrier to delivering timely and effective child protection services.President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officially launched NDP6 in Windhoek on Monday.Themed Fostering Economic Growth, Inclusiveness and Resilience for Sustainable Development, NDP6 covers 2025/26 to 2029/30.The plan, which identifies the strengthening of child protection as a national priority, says thousands of abuse cases are reported annually.During the reporting period, the gender ministry recorded 14 059 cases of violence against children, including physical and sexual abuse, neglect, trafficking, and abandonment.Namibia’s child population stands at 1 397 975—representing 47% of the total population—according to the 2023 National Housing Census. NDP6 notes that without sufficient professional personnel, efforts to prevent and respond to abuse and exploitation are severely hampered.New flagship programme introducedThe plan proposes expanding the child protection workforce, improving inter-ministerial coordination, and implementing integrated case management systems. A dedicated flagship programme, the Child Care and Protection System, has been introduced to address these shortfalls, with a focus on enforcing legal frameworks, delivering services for vulnerable children, and establishing a national rehabilitation centre.NDP6 also highlights the growing threat of online child sexual exploitation. A 2022 Disrupting Harm survey found that 9% of Namibian internet users aged 12 to 17—around 20 000 children annually—reported experiencing such abuse.In addition, the 2019 Violence Against Children Survey showed that 32.7% of girls and 30.9% of boys aged 13 to 17 had experienced physical or verbal abuse at home. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, 45% of males and 39.6% of females reported having experienced violence during childhood.Child marriage persists in several regionsThe prevalence of child marriage remains a concern, particularly in the Kunene, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi, Omusati, and Ohangwena regions. A national study launched in 2020 reported child marriage rates of 18.4% for girls and 4.1% for boys, based on 2013 data.To tackle these systemic issues, the plan outlines key targets to be achieved by 2030: reducing cases of violence against children from 14 059 to 10 000, lowering the prevalence of child marriage from 22.5% to 12.5%, and improving the Minimum Package of Care Index from 0.58 to 0.63.Other strategic goals include enhancing early intervention mechanisms, strengthening data systems, eliminating child labour, and institutionalising training for service providers through a proposed Child Research and Training Institute.Implementation will focus on improving response times, expanding access to support services, and ensuring child protection policies are regularly reviewed and effectively enforced.

One social worker for every 17 923 children, NDP6 flags capacity gap in child protection

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

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One social worker for every 17 923 children, NDP6 flags capacity gap in child protection

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

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