ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on social work in Namibia that includes ecological justice and environmental sustainability. It shows that social policy needs to pay attention to drought crises and broaden the currently limited discussion on the implications of climate change to include its implications for social work practice, education and research. The chapter draws on the green social work model for insights into the roles social workers can play in drought mitigation within a framework that advocates and works for the reform of those socio-political and economic forces that have a deleterious impact on the quality of life of poor communities. It outlines the research method and literature used, followed by an overview of drought in Namibia, including its social, economic and environmental impacts on human well-being. Drought mitigation is a multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary effort. It comprises any structural or physical measures that are undertaken to limit the adverse impacts of drought.