Access to safe freshwater is the main limiting factor for the economic and social development of Namibia. Surface water is restricted to four perennial rivers at the Northern and Southern borders. As in most arid countries groundwater plays a vital role for the supply of wide areas in Namibia. As part of the technical co-operation between Namibia and Germany, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany provided financial and technical support through the project "Groundwater for the North of Namibia" executed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). Phase I commenced in January 2007 and was completed in the first half of 2010. Currently, Phase II is running until May 2014.