Ever since the process of desertification was first recognized, scientific expertise has been in the forefront of attempts to reduce or reverse its impact. More recently the importance of involving indigenous knowledge and people experiencing and being directly affected by desertification has been acknowledged. In Namibia several programmes working on aspects of desertification have highlighted the importance of the planning, policy and legislative framework, the environmental framework and the socio-economic framework in combating desertification. Science and community action can connect to combat desertification, but the results are effective only if the framework conditions are conducive to these interactions. Keywords: desertification, full participation, indigenous knowledge, Namibia, napcod.