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CIVIC BEAT - Namibian Civil Society News & Updates

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V‍olume 3 Issue 1

Dear Esteemed Stakeholder,

Welcome to our latest Newsletter!

Your feedback is important to us, so please share your thoughts or any contributions to our newsletter with info@civic264.org.na

Here is a glimpse of what CIVIC +264 has been up to from January to July 2024:

Stakeholder Sessions

‍Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop, Mariental & Walvis Bay

In April and June, CIVIC +264 provided civil society organisations (CSOs) and stakeholders with information, networking opportunities and discussions on national developments. The topics covered in the stakeholder sessions included: - The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process in Namibia; the role of CSOs in the Anti-Corruption Commission’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan (NACSAP); the draft Government of the Republic of Namibia Civil Society Partnership and Engagement Policy (GRN-CSPE) replacing the GRN-COPP of 2005; the formulation of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP 6); and the Green Hydrogen developments and community involvement.

These sessions took place in Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop, Mariental and Walvis Bay. The presence of Hon. Suzan Ndjaleka (!NAMI #NUS Constituency) in Lüderitz and Cllr Buddy Bramwell in Walvis Bay showed their commitment to partnership and collaboration with CSOs.

‍Stakeholder Session in Lüderitz on 23 April

‍Representatives in attendance from: - FaithValley Christian Centre, //Kharas Regional Council, Empowerment Centre for Vulnerable Children (ECVC), Lüderitz Town Council, Ministry of Labour, Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFHA), Lüderitz Disability Centre, Karas Media House, African Youth and Adolescents Network (AfriYAN)

‍Stakeholder Session in Keetmanshoop on 25 April

‍Representatives in attendance from: - Keetmanshoop Youth Initiative (KYI), !Khob-!Naub Conservancy, Kharas Arts Dance Academy (KADA), ||Kharas Regional Council, //Kharas Youth Forum, Kronlein Neighbourhood Watch (KNHW), Ada Khai Community Association, Kairos Community Radio, Women's Action for Development (WAD), Namibia Rural Women's Asssembly, Keetmanshoop Youth Project (KYP), Tulienam, //Gaweseb Consevancy, Keetmanshoop & Berseba Community Development Committee (CDC), //Kharas Communal Farmers Union

‍Stakeholder Session in Mariental on 26 April

‍Representatives in attendance from: - Rural People's Institute for Social Empowerment (RISE), Rise 2 Shine Project, Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia (NAFSAN), Constituency Aids Coordinating Committee (CACOC), Hardap Regional Council, AFM National Youth Representative

‍Stakeholder Session in Walvis Bay on 11 June

‍Representatives in attendance from: - Harmony for All Movement, Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association, Walvis Bay Town Council, Healingwound Association, MSR (Men on the Side of the Road), Swakop Old Age Home, Women's Solidarity Namibia (WSN), Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA).

Meetings & Workshops

Office of the Auditor General (OAG) Information Session with Civil Society Organisations

On 16 July, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) in collaboration with CIVIC +264, hosted an information session with civil society organisations (CSOs). The theme was "Understanding the Role of the Auditor General and Finding Synergies with CSOs" and began with introductory remarks and an overview of the agenda by Mrs Melanie Markus, Director of CIVIC +264. Ms Ridley van Wyk, Acting Deputy Auditor-General, delivered the welcoming statement, outlining the session's main objectives: Better reach and impact of audit results; Better informed citizens; Better informed audits; and Greater public support for the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI).

Image: Acting Deputy Auditor-General, Ms Ridley van Wyk, highlighted the main objectives of the session on behalf of the Deputy Auditor-General, Mr Goms Menettè

WATCH LIVESTREAM

Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises Mid-Term Budget Review Consultations with Civil Society Organisations

On 15 July, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises and the National Planning Commission of Namibia held Mid-Term Budget Review Consultations with civil society organisations (CSOs) for priorities for the 2024/25 Mid-Year Budget Review. This consultation aimed to engage civil society in the budgetary process, providing an opportunity to raise issues for the 2025/26 national budget.

The consultation involved open discussions and inputs from representatives of various CSOs. Mrs Markus facilitated these discussions, which covered a wide range of issues including - unemployment and inequality; improvements in the welfare system, including the Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition's proposals; housing and sanitation issues, particularly the implementation of the National Housing Policy and Action Plan and the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes.

Image: Discussions and Input from Civil Society Organisations

WATCH LIVESTREAM

Namibia – Open Budget Survey Results Launch

Since 2021, CIVIC +264 and the IPPR have been joining efforts effort to increase public participation, dialogue and understanding in the national budget process through various activities made possible with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF).

The launch of Namibia’s 2023 Open Budget Survey (OBS) results on 7 June highlighted Namibia's progress in budget transparency, public participation and oversight. "The latest Open Budget Survey (OBS) reveals that Namibia is progressing in terms of budget transparency and public participation, but still has work to do on budget oversight by parliament and the Auditor General." IPPR

LTR: Ms Martha Nangolo (IPPR Research Associate), Mr Samuel Kweku Ocran, is the UNICEF Namibia Representative, Hon. Iipumbu Shiimi (Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises), Mr Graham Hopwood (IPPR Executive Director), Mrs Melanie Markus (CIVIC +264 Director)

READ Open Budget Survey 2023

Germany-Namibia Association breakfast meeting with Namibian Civil Society

The meeting between the German-Namibia Association and Namibian Civil Society on 4 June facilitated gathering insights on the current political and economic landscape in Namibia, particularly in the context of the upcoming elections in November 2024.

Image: Mr Christian M. Schlaga (Präsident, Deutsch - Namibische Gesellschaft Botschafter a.D.) going over the purpose of the meeting and introducing the Germany- Namibia Association delegation

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Breakfast Meeting with Civil Society

The IMF mission meeting with civil society on 13 March provided an opportunity to contribute insights and perspectives on recent economic developments in Namibia. The IMF mission presented the 2023 Article IV Namibia Country Report, which highlighted Namibia's resilience to adverse external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

Image: IMF Delegation in discussion with CSO representatives

Briefing Session for Church and Civil Society Leaders on
the Preparations for the National Development Plan 6

On 1 March, CIVIC +264, the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) and the Desk for Social Development - Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (DfSD-ELCRN) held a briefing session for national-level church and civil society leaders on the preparations for the National Development Plan 6 (NDP6). This included presentations from CIVIC +264 on the progress report on NDP5 from the National Planning Commission (NPC). Thereafter, a joint facilitated discussion covering the preparation process of NDP6, opportunities for input from churches and CSOs and the importance of their contributions to national development planning.

Image: Group picture of participating church and civil society leaders

O‍ur Aim

‍The aim of CIVIC +264 is to create a database of active CSOs in Namibia and a website and a social media presence for information sharing amongst those organisations - which is also useful to other stakeholders, e.g. Government entities, Local Authorities, Regional Councils and Development Partners.

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