This paper assesses progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG3)
and its effects on women poverty in Namibia. It focuses at Namibia’s performance on
MDG3’s official indicators: 1) the ratio of girls to boys’ enrolment in schools, 2) ratio of
literate females to males aged 15-24; 3) proportion of women in non-agricultural
employment and 4) proportion of women’s seats in parliaments. The paper reviewed
research materials and documents on Namibia. Findings indicate that Namibia has made
progress towards achieving MDG3 indicators. Although the indicators are critical to
measuring development, they do not sufficiently measure aspects of gender equality and
empowerment. They do not capture the quality and outcome of education nor do they
quantify barriers that inhibit women’s participation in labour markets and parliaments.
Consequently, achievements based on these indicators do not truly reflect progress
toward gender equality and empowerment and their potential multiplier effects on women
poverty are weak.