Selected Issues Papers

This paper analyzes social spending in Namibia across education, health, and social protection. It assesses spending adequacy relative to development needs and examines whether resources are effectively translated into social outcomes. The analysis finds that spending levels compare favorably with peers, but efficiency gaps remain across sectors. In education and health, outcomes lag behind those achieved in some countries with comparable spending levels, while social assistance programs face coverage and targeting challenges. Policies to improve allocative efficiency could strengthen social outcomes while supporting fiscal sustainability.