Water scarcity continues to be a global issue, and Namibia is no stranger to this crisis. To address this challenge, the Omeya - A Dry City Drive Social Hackathon brought together a diverse group of individuals to brainstorm innovative solutions for sustainable water management. Hosted by Turipamwe, Måndag, and the City of Windhoek Department of Infrastructure, Water and Technical Services, the hackathon encouraged participants to explore how each of us can contribute to solving Namibia's water scarcity problem.

The two-day event was a creative, collaborative experience grounded in design thinking, where individuals from diverse walks of the Namibian life—including students, professionals, public sector representatives, and private businesses—came together with a common goal: finding solutions to better manage our limited water resources. The dynamic set-up allowed the attendees to engage in team-based problem-solving, culminating in the presentation of practical, forward-thinking solutions to a panel of experts.

This is what we learned…

We all play a much bigger role than we think!

When it comes to sustainable water management, Namibia has come a long way in the efficiency of water use. Still, we can do so much better, and this isn't just a government or policy issue—it's something that is affected by our collective understanding of how water works. If we want future generations to have access to clean water, we need to change our habits and our mindsets.

There is a major gap between what we think and the reality is.

At the fundamental level, we do not understand how water works, and this has led us to adopt preconceived notions about how we're charged unfairly for our water use, for instance. The future needs us to stop focusing on the problem and collaborate as communities to form quantifiable solutions.

Water affects us all. I know you've heard this before, but bear with me.

This Social Hackathon underscored that water is a challenge that doesn't just impact us at home but in all aspects of our society. Out-of-service bathrooms, dry fountains, and failing sanitation systems have a direct impact on the well-being and productivity of our collective community. No single entity can tackle water scarcity alone, and solutions must come from all our sectors—private businesses, government agencies, schools, and individuals—working in unison.

Collaborative Problem-Solving through Design Thinking

The hackathon itself was an inspiring example of how collaborative, design-thinking-based problem-solving can lead to actionable ideas. Participants were split into teams, each with a diverse group of members representing different sectors and perspectives. This diversity fuelled creative thinking and led to creative solutions… basically, what all this is about.

Throughout the event, participants engaged in various exercises aimed at unpacking the water crisis and validating proposed solutions. Each group took the same problems and was tasked with looking for innovative ways to approach them. The energy and creativity of the participants were evident in the final presentations, where groups proposed solutions such as community-driven water conservation campaigns and improved infrastructure monitoring systems, among many other amazing ideas.

Ultimately, this was a call for Consideration and Awareness

This was not just about finding quick fixes to the water dilemma, but about cultivating a deeper understanding of the issue and encouraging people to think critically about how their actions contribute to the problem or the solution. It’s about being considerate of others and understanding that sustainable water management requires collective action, which to me, looks like all of us coming together and supporting one another on this front. This is not a situation where any of us can drink our water and mind our business. We need to look at how we can share water sustainably because this is all our business.

If we want to secure a future where water is abundant and accessible to all, we need to start making thoughtful, informed decisions today. From small, personal actions to large-scale policy changes, every effort counts. The hackathon emphasized that awareness and education are key, and it is up to us all, as Namibians, to work together to solve the water scarcity problem before it’s too late.

By: Ututjinda James Kavendjaa

A Look at the Omeya – A Dry City Drive: Social Hackathon Solving Urban Water Scarcity