Abstract
According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, all countries should make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. In 1990, the government of the Republic of Namibia emphasised housing as a sustainable development major factor. Therefore, effective and efficient housing delivery is crucial for the development of an urban area and the country at large. In addition to the value that formal housing contributes to the lives of people through shelter and investment, housing is also an indication of economic growth and development. Efficient implementation of low-income formal housing through sustainable collaborative structures create viable communities and cities through poverty reduction. Despite the various SCG initiatives adopted by the Namibian government, providing housing to low-income groups remain a challenge as in the case of the City of Windhoek (CoW). Policymakers must understand the dynamics surrounding barriers that prevent low-income groups in informal settlements from building formal houses. The implementation of SCG in the delivery of low-income housing is vital to achieving SDG 11 by 2030. This study aims to develop a SCG framework for delivering low-income housing in the CoW, Namibia. Triangulation of methods was used as semi-structured interviews and structured questionnaires were used for gathering research data. Interviews were conducted with a diverse group of participants, including at least 30 low-income homeowners, three staff members from the local government authority, two representatives each from the Namibia Housing Action Group, the National Housing Enterprise, and local banks, along with two business representatives. Additionally, the interviews included one representative from a trade union, one from a youth organisation, and one regional facilitator from the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia. The findings suggest that multiple factors serve as barriers to housing delivery in the low-income districts of CoW. Inadequately serviced residential land, lack of political will, and inadequate financing among others were found to be the main barriers to low-income housing delivery in the CoW. Ineffective implementation of SCG at the planning, implementation, and monitoring stages of housing projects in CoW are other hindering factors to low-income housing delivery in the CoW. Individuals living in low-income districts of CoW find it challenging to afford to buy land and houses due to low monthly earnings, high mortgage interest rates and unemployment. Despite the well-articulated housing and town planning policy framework, it appears that it has not been fully implemented to effectively address the housing needs of low-income groups in CoW. The findings of the study will be useful to policymakers in developing and implementing SCG frameworks to eradicate housing shortages in the CoW.