On Monday, 23 September 2024, the ‘NPO Level Up Training: Introduction Session’ took place at the House of Democracy in Windhoek. The session was hosted by the Lithon Foundation and the Civil Society Information Centre Namibia (CIVIC +264), with support from the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF). The training was designed to help welfare organisations (WOs)* improve their governance by providing them with useful resources and knowledge.
The training began with a presentation by Dianne Hubbard, a legal consultant and author of the CIVIC +264 publication ‘Channels for Change – A Guide to Setting Up Civil Society Organisations in Namibia’. She talked about the legal structures for civil society organisations (CSOs), different types of CSOs and important information that every CSO should know. Bradley Tjongarero from CIVIC +264 then explained how umbrella organisations can help CSOs through support, coordination and advocacy and going through the umbrella bodies listed on the CIVIC +264 website.
Ms Sabina Jacobs, the Registrar of the National Welfare Board at MoHSS, gave a presentation on the compliance requirements for WOs. She provided practical advice on meeting these requirements and showed examples of a constitution and annual plan for WOs. With 24 CSO representatives attending, these practical sessions gave participants the tools they needed to improve their internal structures and meet MoHSS standards.
Ms Sabina Jacobs, the Registrar of the National Welfare Board at MoHSS, presenting on the Principle of WO management
The session ended with a networking opportunity, where participants shared ideas and experiences. The training also set the stage for Training Session 1, which will take place on 28 October 2024 and will cover governance structures and reporting practices in more detail.
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Links to resources: -
- Information on the NPO Level Up Training <https://www.civic264.org.na/opportunities/trainingopp>
- 'Channels for Change – A Guide to Setting Up Civil Society Organisations in Namibia' <https://www.civic264.org.na/info-for-csos/guide-to-setting-up-csos-in-namibia>
- CIVIC +264 Presentation on Umbrella Organisations for Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) <https://www.civic264.org.na/images/pdf/2024/9/CIVIC_264_Activity_2024-09-23_UMBRELLA_ORGs_Presentation.pptx>
- Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS):
- Ms Sabine Jacobs' presentation on Principles of WO Management <https://www.civic264.org.na/images/pdf/2024/9/PRINCIPLES_OF_WO_MANAGEMENT.pptx>
- Constitution sample of MoHSS <https://www.civic264.org.na/images/pdf/2024/9/LF-MHSS-Guidelines_to_Constitution-150331.docx>
- Yearly Plan sample of MoHSS <https://www.civic264.org.na/images/pdf/2024/9/WO_annualyearly_plan.doc>
- Contacts at the Office of the National Welfare Board of MoHSS-
- Kaarina Nandongo: kaarina.nandango@mhss.gov.na, 061 203 2684
- Sherley Harases: sherley.harases@mhss.gov.na, 061 203 2682
- Lithon Foundation: https://www.lithon.com/lithon-foundation/
*"Civil society organisations that engage in certain “public welfare” activities AND intend to request donations from the government at national, regional or local level OR collect money from the general public must register with the Ministry of Health and Social Services as “welfare organisations” under the National Welfare Act 79 of 1965. A registered welfare organisation receives a certificate of registration from the Ministry which it can present to show that it is validly soliciting donations for public welfare activities." - Channels for Change–A Guide to Setting Up Civil Society Organisations in Namibia