Windhoek Moves Closer to Smart City Future with UN-Habitat Partnership

Windhoek Moves Closer to Smart City Future with UN-Habitat Partnership. Windhoek Mayor, Councillor Ndeshihafela Larandja, has reaffirmed the City of Windhoek’s commitment to transforming the capital into a smart, sustainable, and people-centred city aimed at improving the quality of life for all residents.

Speaking at the opening of the Visioning Workshop for the Smart City Concept, held in collaboration with UN-Habitat, the Mayor said the city is embracing innovation and technology to overcome pressing urban challenges.

“The City of Windhoek faces significant challenges in delivering services with limited financial resources, largely due to rapid urbanisation,” said Larandja. “It is against this background that we have embarked on a journey towards becoming a smart city by integrating physical, digital, and human systems within the built environment to achieve a sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive future for our citizens.”

The two-day workshop aims to develop a comprehensive Smart City Strategy for Windhoek, supported by technical expertise from UN-Habitat. The strategy will serve as a blueprint for using technology to improve service delivery, promote environmental sustainability, and strengthen socio-economic inclusion.

The session brought together officials from the City of Windhoek and UN-Habitat, including Masayuki Yokota, Head of the Sub-Regional Hub for Southern Africa, and Aline Machado Da Matta, Head of the UN Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities.

The initiative underscores Windhoek’s broader goal of aligning with global smart city principles—prioritising efficiency, citizen engagement, and sustainable urban growth. It also reflects the city’s ambition to position itself as a regional leader in digital transformation and urban innovation.