Examining local community socio-economic benefits from community forest programmes in Namibia

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ABSTRACT Although academic debates since the 1990s have focused on the outcomes of community forest management interventions these debates have not been widespread within the African context. Literature on a hybrid business model to enable socio-economic security for communities has generally been inadequate. This study examined the socio-economic benefits derived from the Okongo and Uukolonkadhi community forests in Namibia to better understand the local communities’ perceptions of forest management beneficiation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with residents of these community forests and key government and civil society informants involved with forest management programmes. Although there is an enabling framework in place for benefit sharing, these are unequal, and most residents are unaware of the benefit distribution plans. The government also lacks sufficient economic and technical resources to support communities in developing inclusive hybrid business models. Scholarship must consider the divergent southern geographic contextual challenges to better understand forest beneficiation outcomes.