Since Namibia gained Independence in 1990, one of my personal missions has been to contribute to nation-building through data. As a student of computer science and statistics, I began developing a central register of information in 1993—what I now refer to as an Information Bank for Namibian consumers.
The idea was simple: make use of public data sources—such as electoral rolls, land registers, and other publicly available records—to build a comprehensive register that could assist in economic modelling and decision-making. Over time, this effort has grown into a personal data register with over 3 million records, representing more than half the country’s population.
Collaboration with Global Partners
In 1999, I began collaborating with Creditreform Düsseldorf Frormann KG in Germany. Together, we crafted a proposal for an integrated central register of both personal and business data. The goal was to support both government and the financial sector in delivering better, more targeted services.
Our primary focus during that time was on compiling a business register, which now includes more than 11,000 Namibian businesses. We’ve engaged with several government officials over the years to showcase the benefits of such a system—ranging from improved service delivery to better economic forecasting. However, despite ongoing conversations, implementation has been hampered by a limited understanding of the technology and its potential.
Personal Data as a National Asset
More recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has introduced a compelling concept: personal data as a new asset class. In their 2011 report “Rethinking Personal Data: Strengthening Trust”, the WEF outlines four major action points to develop a trusted global personal data ecosystem:
Engage in Dialogue
A robust, structured conversation is needed—one that includes individuals not just as data subjects but also as creators. The focus should be on transparency, accountability, and securing trust.
Agree on Shared Principles
With the slogan “think globally, act locally”, the WEF encourages the development of guiding principles that can adapt to different regulatory and cultural contexts.
Create New Governance Models
Effective data ecosystems require participation from all sectors—government, private institutions, and civil society—to co-create enforcement mechanisms and frameworks for trust.
Establish Living Labs
These are safe, scalable environments to test policies, technologies, and business models in real-time. They allow countries to learn and adapt quickly in a data-driven world.
A Call to Collaborate: Making Namibia a Living Lab
Namibia is uniquely positioned to become a “living lab” for personal data. We are a small but connected society, and the groundwork of data collection has already been laid. What is needed now is a collaborative effort to bring together researchers, developers, civil society, and government to build something transformative.
I invite any research institution, NGO, or data-focused initiative to partner with me in testing new models of data governance, accountability, and service delivery—right here in Namibia. The Information Bank I have developed is not only a digital archive; it is a foundation for the future.
As we rethink how we manage and use personal and business data, Namibia has a chance to lead—not by having the biggest system, but by creating the smartest and most trusted one.
