Namibia launches digital framework to reform disability grant assessments

The Namibian government has launched a new digital medical assessment framework and updated guidelines to overhaul the distribution of monthly disability grants. Unveiled by Vice President Lucia Witbooi in Windhoek, the initiative aims to eliminate administrative bottlenecks, inconsistent criteria, and delays that previously hindered access to social protection.

The reform introduces the ‘Guideline on the Medical Assessment of the Functionality and Degree of Disability’ alongside a dedicated digital portal. This system is intended to create a fairer, more transparent, and faster assessment process, particularly for vulnerable households in remote rural areas.

According to the 2023 Population and Housing Census, the number of citizens living with disabilities in Namibia has risen to 152,790, up from 98,413 in 2011. Approximately 8% of the population relies on the state disability pension, which has increased from N$300 to N$1,700 per month since independence.