This report provides an overview of the social economy of the Ovambo and Kavango regions, home to over half of Namibia’s population. Despite their demographic significance, these northern regions have historically experienced severe economic and administrative neglect, resulting in limited development and pressure on natural resources. The study focuses particularly on livestock production and the broader livelihood systems of rural households. It highlights the scarcity of reliable data due to underdevelopment, the impact of the protracted liberation war on social organisation and household production systems, and the limitations of existing anthropological literature, much of which predates major socio‑economic changes. By examining environmental conditions, population patterns, and the effects of conflict and labour migration, the report outlines key structural challenges and transformations shaping contemporary livelihoods in Ovambo and Kavango.