In Namibia, the IWRM concept was introduced in the late 1990s during the water sector review process. It was well accepted by stakeholders and indicated that they were keen to be involved in the management of their natural resources. Currently the concept has been fully supported and had been given a legal status through the Water Resources Management Act of 2004 as a suitable structure to manage and develop water resources.

IWRM is "a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resource, in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without comprising the sustainability of vital ecosystems" (GWP 2000). Integrated management means that all the different uses of water resources are considered together. Water allocation and management decisions are made while considering the effect of one water use on another. It is therefore a participatory planning and implementation process which bring together stakeholders to determine how to meet society's long term needs of water and natural resources while maintaining essential ecological services and economical benefits.