Namibia to train civil servants in AI, starting at the top
NIPAM launches AI courses in move to modernise Namibia’s Civil Service
#Namibia #education – Namibia’s public administration training body, the Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM), has announced plans to introduce short AI training courses for civil servants, beginning with executive directors, chief executives and senior managers before rolling out to operational staff. The leadership-first approach is designed to ensure decision-makers understand AI opportunities, compliance risks and ethical considerations ahead of broader implementation across government. The initiative supports Namibia’s National AI Strategy, launched in August 2025 by the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST).
SO WHAT? – Increasing AI literacy was one of the top recommendations in last year’s Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment. Produced by NCRST with the support of UNESCO, the report recommended the development of a comprehensive national AI governance framework and investing in AI literacy at all levels of education in order to accelerate integration of AI into the public sector and digital government services. Since all government AI initiatives will require both oversight and commitment from government leaders, NIPAM’s top-down AI training approach makes perfect sense.
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Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM) has announced plans to introduce short AI training courses for Namibia’s civil servants, beginning with executive directors, chief executives and senior managers, with the programme set to extend to operational staff once the leadership cohort is complete.
The leadership-first approach is designed to ensure decision-makers can assess AI opportunities, understand compliance risks, and address ethical concerns before AI tools are deployed across government offices and public services.
NIPAM executive director Heroldt Murangi noted that AI is already transforming institutions globally, affecting decision-making processes, service delivery models and communication systems across both public and private sectors.
Director of strategy and corporate services Sankwasa Mubita urged officials to embrace innovation, warning that failure to adopt AI could leave Namibia trailing behind regional and global developments in public administration.
Namibia’s National AI Strategy was launched in August 2025 by the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST). The strategy’s core focus is on integrating AI to drive economic growth, innovation and inclusive development, aligned with the country’s Vision 2030 framework.
The strategy prioritises AI integration across food security, water, energy, health, education, climate change, mining, security and logistics, with additional focus on tourism and broadcasting.
Governance structures proposed under the strategy include a National AI Council, sector-specific technical working groups, and a dedicated National Responsible AI Institute to oversee responsible AI development across the country.
The strategy is informed by a 2025 UNESCO-backed Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment, which highlighted the need for ethical AI adoption, improved digital skills and bridging the digital divide, building on the foundation laid by Namibia’s 2022 Access to Information Act (PDF).
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Sources: Eagle FM Namibia, AAIN