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06 May 2023
UN delegation visits community projects in Windhoek
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17 April 2023
17 Stories Project: The Knowledge of Good Health by Sarah Uanzekin
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17 April 2023
THE ROLE OF AFRICAN PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSELLERS IN REALIZING THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Namibia
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Namibia.
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27 November 2022
FAO supporting Namibia to develop new Comprehensive Conservation Agriculture Programme
The first ever Comprehensive Conservation Agriculture Programme (CCAP 2015-2020) registered commendable progress towards improving food production and incomes for farmers in Namibia. The Framework aimed to increase the application of CA principles and practices among the crop-growing farmers of Namibia.
Godfried Meeja, from Otjozondjupa region says that adopting CA was the best decision he ever made as a farmer as he increased yields and now earns a decent income, while Paulina Aluuma added her voice to the awareness encouraging other farmers to adopt CA as it is an effective means to counter negative climate change effects such as low and variable pattern rainfall experienced in their Oshana region.
“CA has been promoted as an entry point to Climate Smart Agriculture and has the potential to contribute towards mitigation of some of the climate change and food systems challenges in Namibia,” Mildred Kambinda, Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) noted in the meeting to evaluate the ended CA framework.
Formulating second generation of CA Framework
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through a 10 countries regional project “Strengthening Coordination, Scaling Up and Governance of Conservation Agriculture in Southern Africa (SUCASA)” is supporting development of the second generation of CCAP in Namibia.
The five-year Programme will inspire Namibia’s farmers towards adopting CA in order to ensure resilience, food security and nutrition as well as environmental protection.
The development of the first generation of the CA framework was also supported by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR).
“As the global climate crisis intensifies, more and more countries are beginning to adopt climate-smart, sustainable agriculture to ensure food security to feed millions of vulnerable people", Ferdinard Mwapopi, Assistant FAO Representative (Progammes) in Namibia said during a consultative meeting.
"Namibia still remains a net importer of food items and is thus highly exposed to environmental and economic factors affecting it as well as those prevailing in food exporting countries, and this increases its vulnerability to the shocks", added Mwapopi.
Transitioning to climate-smart agriculture practices
Consultations among key stakeholders are underway from development partners, academia and farmers to guide the design of the new intervention, and also ensure ownership and its successful implementation.
The new CA framework is being designed with the technical support from FAO and will seek to transition Namibian farmers from rain-fed traditional farming practice toward climate-smart agriculture.
Conservation Agriculture adoption and scaling up is highlighted in the 5th National Development Plan for Namibia 2017-2022 and the MAWLR Strategic Plan 2017-2022. The country has a target to have more farmers adopt at least one of the CA practices; minimum tillage, crop rotation and organic soil cover, by 2025 to ensure food and nutrition security.
The urgent need to scale up CA
Agriculture in Namibia is primarily rain-fed with the majority of the population engaged in subsistence farming.
“Despite agriculture being the main source of food for the smallholder farmers, most conventional farming practices have negative impacts on the ecosystems and contribute to environmental degradation, for example loss of soil quality,” Mwapopi noted.
With the country’s vulnerabilities such as prolonged dry spell and floods which at times take place simultaneously, Conservation Agriculture adoption would provide sustainable food production.
The FAO support is aimed at enhancing institutional and individual capacities of researchers, extension officers and farmers to enable the adoption of new agricultural good practices for improved crop production.
The capacities of the MAWLR are being developed to promote CA principles to help farmers increase production and productivity, thus reducing risks and building resilience to climate change.
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27 November 2022
Youthconnekt Namibia Launched
OTJIWARONGO, Namibia — The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), officially launched the YouthConnekt Namibia initiative on 21 September 2022.
YouthConnekt Africa is a Pan-African program established by the African Union to co-design and expedite suitable solutions for youth socio-economic development, as well as to support intergovernmental knowledge exchange on policy, initiatives, and collaborations.
Operationalised in 2020, the YouthConnekt Africa hub aims to contribute to the achievement of Africa’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mandate, the AU 2063 agenda and the AU Youth Charter.
Through national YouthConnekt initiatives, the hub accomplishes its mandate by coordinating a global network to create a continental ecosystem for African youth; sharing experience and knowledge on programme and policy design, youth initiatives and providing a conduit for resources at scale and data on youth empowerment initiatives.
The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Hon. Emma Kantema-Gaomas said YouthConnekt Namibia aims to involve Namibian youth in the YouthConnekt Africa Hub, where they will be expected to share ideas, submit business initiatives and acquire technical development skills.
“Our mandate as a ministry is focused towards the promotion of youth empowerment initiatives as expounded in our third national youth policy. It is, therefore, our duty to ensure that we join hands with development partners and other progressive organisations in the development of youth,” said Hon. Kantema-Gaomas during the launch.
She added that there is an urgent need for youth participation at the top end of the country’s economy, hence, the government has put together a variety of policy interventions designed to bring youth into the mainstream of the economy in order to improve inclusion and cohesion.
“Africa's most valuable resource is its youth, and Namibia is no exception, with youth constituting the majority of the population,” she stated.
Loide Amkongo, UNFPA Namibia Assistant Representative and Officer in Charge urged youth to read more to keep abreast with developments and opportunities. “Read, Reach and participate,” she advised the youth during a panel discussion on how Namibian youth can prepare themselves to fully benefit from the YouthConnekt.
“Finally Namibia has officially become part of YouthConnect Africa. We have started to connect with youth from all over Namibia and I cannot wait to connect with youth from the rest of the continent. I want to thank our government for this wonderful initiative, bringing youth together for problem-solving, promoting youth engagement, and empowering the youth,” said Valmary Jantjie, a youth from! Kharas region.
Riaan Siyama, a youth from the Zambezi region also looked forward to connecting with fellow youth and hearing their thoughts and ideas, especially on how to end gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. Siyama is a co-founder of Building Every Opportunity for Change, a civil society organisation that works with men to prevent GBV in Zambezi region.
“Without concerted efforts to address GBV and other forms of gender injustices, the lives of women and girls in the country remain at risk."
"I’m very thankful that we have been accorded the opportunity to be part of the YouthConnekt Namibia launch where we can showcase our work as well as collaborate with other youth around the country and make it effective for us to combat these social illnesses in our country,” he added.
The fifth YouthConnekt Africa Summit took place in Kigali, Rwanda in October this year, where hundreds of young people from the member states of YouthConnekt Africa gathered to share experiences, knowledge, and skills. Some of the members of YouthConnekt Namibia attended the summit in Kigali.
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14 November 2022
Adolescents and youth with disabilities, and adolescents living with and affected by HIV empowered on HIV and Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights
UNAIDS Namibia in collaboration with the Namibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) and National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN) with the support of UNICEF and UNFPA recently facilitated a two-day workshop on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Windhoek, as part of the 2gether4SRHR initiative.
The workshop provided a safe platform for adolescents to interact and share key issues, successes and challenges that they face, for enhanced programming to address gaps in the HIV response, and to strengthen linkages between adolescents with disabilities and other adolescents, including those living with and affected by HIV to strengthen inclusion and partnerships.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted access to life-saving sexual and reproductive and other health services for adolescents, especially those with disabilities and those living and affected by with HIV. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted access to life-saving sexual and reproductive and other health services for adolescents, especially those with disabilities and those living and affected by with HIV.
In her opening remarks, Dr Alti Zwandor, UNAIDS Namibia Country Director, encouraged participants to actively contribute during the workshop and continue engaging in programmes for and with youth and adolescents to end inequalities. “I hope that your views, suggestions, and recommendations from this workshop will inform the outcome document that will be developed to provide guidance on gender-transformative and human rights-based interventions for adolescents with disabilities in Namibia."
" I therefore urge you to be as free, open, and frank as possible,” said Dr Zwandor.
Among other challenges, the lack of sign language interpreters and skills is a big concern in Namibia as interpreters are usually fully booked when needed by the hearing-impaired community. This was also highlighted by the Namibia Planned Parenthooh Association (NAPPA), a youth friendly service provider for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care and support.
This continues to limit access to health and other social and essential services, leaving people with disabilities behind. “We often get discouraged to seek services from health facilities as there are no sign language interpreters to communicate our needs to healthcare workers and information hardly reaches us," said Martha, an adolescent with hearing impairment. Participants emphasized the need for the inclusion of adolescents with disabilities in the HIV and COVID-19 responses to ensure that people with disabilities access quality and equitable health services.
UNAIDS has long advocated for a three-track approach to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities in the HIV response, being:
Disability-specific activities and mainstreaming disability across all aspects of HIV responses.
Participation and active involvement of people with disabilities in all programme elements.
Disability-inclusive policies, programmes and implementation strategies that ensure appropriate funding and resources.
UNAIDS Namibia calls for all partners to use the social model, which acknowledges that the current inequalities are not due to peoples’ disability or vulnerability, but the inability of society to eliminate barriers challenging persons with disabilities. This will ensure inclusive development and programming for adolescents and youth so that they benefit from available services, and that the social and structural barriers that prevent young people from accessing HIV services are removed.
Speaking on behalf of the NFPDN, Mr. Orben Muluti calls for communities to start practicing equity and not equality.
“Equity will help us move to a better world, where all societal systems recognize the issues of people with disabilities and work collectively with them to mainstream disability in all aspects of life.” said Muluti.
In closing, the NNAD Director, Mr Paul Nanyeni highlighted the limited communication modalities for people with disabilities and emphasised the need to strengthen joint advocacy for the inclusion of sign language as an official language in Namibia.
The workshop was facilitated by various partners including AfriYAN Namibia, Regain Trust, NAPPA, Youth Empowerment Group (YEG), UNFPA, UNICEF and UNAIDS. The outcome document will be shared with all stakeholders for accelerated action for HIV and SRHR programming for adolescents with disabilities.
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03 December 2022
International Day of Persons with Disabilities Marks 29 Years of Disability Advocacy
It was first launched in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 47/3. The event is in its 29th year of celebration, marking nearly three decades of meaningful change for the community of Persons with Disabilities.
Such days allow us to pose and shine a light on different situations of Persons with different disabilities worldwide and what our contributions as society are towards the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of life.
This day is aimed at celebrating the successes of persons with disabilities and promoting their rights and well-being in all spheres of society and development.
Although we live in a world where the contributions of persons with disabilities are not seen, it is very important to remember that a disability is less than the abilities of someone with a disability.
This year’s theme is “Transformative solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fueling an Accessible and Equitable World”
Focusing on three areas namely-
Employment,
Sports and
Innovation by and for persons with disabilities.
Today and every day the UN is working together with people with different disabilities to create a world that is accessible, equal and inclusive for our fellow Brothers and Sisters who are differently abled, but the UN cannot do this alone since disability is a cross-cutting issue.
How can you assist the UN in creating an accessible, equal and inclusive world for persons with disabilities around you?
As we commemorate the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we do enjoy the following poem entitled "No One" by Ms Pelgrina Ndumba, a UN Namibia Country Staff Member with a Visual Impairment.
No one
Seeking the acceptance of our communities should not be in vein, because no one will live our lives on our behalf.
A life of societal discrimination and ignorance should be a story of the past, because no one can live our lives on our behalf.
A helping hand to cross the street or to count money should not discourage us from achieving our goals, because no one should live our lives on our behalf
We are valuable agents of change; we are well able and should make a mark on the world because no one will live our lives on our behalf.
We are more than our faces; we are more than what you see. Our potential SHOULD be fully realized because no one will live our lives on our behalf.
Nothing about us will be done without us, because no one will live our lives on our behalf
Daily, we must face the inescapable challenges birthed from stigma and hate.
We are who we are today, because no one will live our lives on our behalf.
Morale
In whatever you do always be yourself, because you are not who you are by mistake and don’t let anything or anybody put you down, because you are able.
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15 November 2022
Towards an Early Warning System for Harmful Algal Blooms in Namibia
IOC-UNESCO and Namibia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources organized major consultation to assess the specific needs and requirements for establishing an early warning system for harmful algal blooms in the Southern African country.
About 300 hundred species of microalgae are reported at times to form mass occurrences, so-called algal blooms. Nearly one-fourth of these species are known to produce toxins harmful to nature and to human beings, and the scientific community refers to these algal events as ‘Harmful Algal Blooms’ (HAB).
Proliferations of microalgae in marine or brackish waters can cause massive fish kills, contaminate seafood with toxins, and alter ecosystems in ways that humans perceive as harmful.
The impact of harmful microalgae is particularly evident when marine food resources (e.g. fisheries and aquaculture) are affected. Even though not all species are visibly affected by harmful algal blooms – such as shellfish and finfish –, they accumulate the toxins in their organs and subsequently transmit them to humans through consumption, leading to serious health threats.
“In the interest of food safety for the end consumer, an early warning system for HABs will serve as a food safety intervention tool to identify potential risks required to be managed; to maintain consumer and customer confidence; and to expand national, regional and international trade through the promotion of a safe seafood commodity.” - Heidi Skrypzeck, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Namibia
Monitoring of harmful algal blooms is essential in providing forecasts and early warnings for a potential HAB event, enabling regional authorities, industry, or individuals to take actions to mitigate public health, environmental, or economic risks and impacts.
The 5-6 October workshop gathered 32 participants from government ministries, the private sector, academic institutions, and official laboratories to define the early warning system requirements for Namibia, review current capacities and resources in place, and outline missing knowledge and data gaps.
As a result of collaboration between the Government of Namibia, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) and UNESCO’s Windhoek Office, the workshop marked the starting point of the development of an early warning system for HABs in Namibia combining monitoring with a mitigation and adaptation strategy.
“Through its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO strives to assist Member States in managing and mitigating the impacts of harmful algae, essential for a productive and sustainable seafood industry.” - Henrik Enevoldsen, Head of Ocean Science at IOC-UNESCO
The workshop helped national stakeholders identify and share the main causes and effects of harmful algal blooms in Namibia, including mortalities, human food poisonings, ocean oxygen depletion, and the associated economic and ecological impacts – in particular on the export of shellfish products.
Participants identified an urgent need to establish a rapid monitoring and regulatory framework to ensure the protection of human health and safe seafood trade from the regular occurrence of harmful algae in the country.
“Engaging from the beginning with the different stakeholders is crucial to ensure that the early warning system being developed will eventually effectively meet their specific needs.” - Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui Bottein, invited expert from the University of Côte d’Azur
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06 May 2023
UN delegation visits community projects in Windhoek
UN Namibia delegation consisting of partners from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNAIDS under the flagship of the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPAF) visited various UN supported projects in underserved communities in Windhoek.
The high-level site visit took place on Wednesday (April,19). The Epandulo community in the Moses Garoeb constituency is one of the communities visited by the delegation which also consisted of officials from the Khomas Regional Council as well as the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
The Resident Coordinator, Ms Hopolang Phororo, WHO Representative, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses and Khomas Governor, Laura McLeod-Katjirua were part of the delegation that interacted with the community members at Epandulo where supplementary vaccination and nutritional services were provided to children under the age of five years.
The supplementary vaccination activities were for all childhood diseases and included Vitamin A supplementation and deworming for children. The campaign started at 9 A.M and by 1 P.M, 111 children had received Vitamin A supplements, 116 Albendazole, over 20 children who missed their 15 months measles vaccines were identified at the site and subsequently vaccinated against measles.
In addition, a few children were vaccinated against polio and 137 children were screened for malnutrition, using the Measuring Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC). Mothers who missed their tetanus vaccines were also vaccinated at the site.
Elisabeth Heita, the Chief Health Programme Officer for Family Health in the Ministry of Health and Social Services explained that the supplementary immunisation activity was meant to boost immunisation coverage in the Khomas region (Windhoek and the surrounding areas). In August and September last year, the Ministry of Health and Social Services had a measles and rubella campaign.
“After six months we have to give vitamin A supplementation and deworming to the children again and that is why we are here,” explained Heita. The supplementation campaign was also meant to take the health services closer to the communities, explained Heita.
“Most of the mothers don’t take their children to the health care facilities for immunisation unless their child is sick,” Heita explained. The children who were screened and found to be severely malnourished were provided with therapeutic foods and also referred to their nearest health facilities for further treatment, Heita explained.
The Khomas Region Occupational Therapist was also on site to identify and refer children with disabilities for treatment at the health facilities. The community health workers at the site further used the opportunity to provide health education to the community. Meanwhile, Dr. Sagoe-Moses told the health professionals and communities present that the visit was meant to observe what is happening at the grassroots level. “We want to see the things that you do and participate in some of it,” he said. He also explained that the site visit was part of an agreement between the UN and the Namibian government to support development in the country.
In 2022, the UN donated USD 6.7 million to the Namibian health sector. The nutritional supplements used at the Epandulo site were procured with support from UNICEF.
Furthermore, the WHO continuously provides technical and financial support to the Ministry of Health and Social Services including the development of health education training materials. The supplementary immunisation activities also took place at other sites in Windhoek and were held ahead of the African Vaccination week slated for the end of April.
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17 April 2023
17 Stories Project: The Knowledge of Good Health by Sarah Uanzekin
I once had a neighbour who has a daughter who always falls sick; they didn't know she had an ulcer. Whenever the ulcer reaction starts, her dad usually gives her herbs to drink. It became a daily routine of taking herbs. When it got worse, my mum advised him to take her to the hospital for a check-up, but he declined, saying that it was normal to react that way.
It continued daily, weekly, it didn't stop. It got worse but he still wouldn't listen to my mum's advice to take her to the hospital. It got to a point where she fainted three times in a day. But still, he wouldn't agree to take her to the hospital. Her mum grew worried about the situation and talked to him so that he would change his mind, but he didn't listen. The matter led to a serious quarrel between them. One day when her husband wasn't around when their daughter's ulcer reaction started, the wife refused to give her the native drugs. Instead, she called my mum to assist her in taking their daughter to the hospital.
When they arrived at the hospital, she was immediately admitted. When they checked her, the result was clear: she was a serious ulcer patient and the herbs she had taken, had worsened the situation. She had to stay in hospital for a month before she could be discharged. They prescribed many drugs costing the huge amount of money of ₦30,000.00 on top of the hospital charges. A total of ₦90,000.00.
When the husband came home, he couldn't find his wife and his daughter. He asked the neighbors about their whereabouts, and he was told that they were at the hospital. He was furious. He rushed to the hospital and began shouting at his wife for bringing their daughter to the hospital. They tried to calm him down, but he wouldn't calm down.
One of the doctors took him to his office and explained everything to him. The effects and the importance of drugs were explained to Mr. Akande. He finally accepted that he was at fault in everything that had happened to his daughter. He paid the bills and after a month, she was discharged from the hospital, hale and hearty.
Mr. Akande finally understood the importance of good health, and the importance of drugs prescribed by trained doctors.
I also had another friend. His name is Maxwell. He was a good friend of mine. He loved eating so much that he became a chronic glutton. He ate anything and everything even if it had not been washed. One day, he had a running stomach, and it became a regular problem. It made him really emaciated. The fat Maxwell I knew was now so slim, you could hardly recognize him. When his situation got worse, he was taken to the hospital. He was diagnosed with cholera and diarrhoea. He was advised by the doctor never to eat fruits that were not ripe or not washed and not to eat uncovered, leftover food.
The disease people suffer from are often a result of their carelessness with their health. For many people, it is their hands that cause the trouble for their health and well-being. Cholera, diarrhea and malaria are the most common diseases found in the society. They can cause death. Some of these diseases don't come on their own, but we welcome and embrace them into our lives out of ignorance and we kill our well-being and good health.
Many youths die today because of a little mistake made out of ignorance or rooted in our characters and attitudes. We use dirty hands to cook and eat expecting germs not to come into our systems. We make use of dirty pots, plates, cups and cutleries and do not expect to contract diseases and sicknesses. STOP! We must put a stop to all this carelessness. The learned who have knowledge about good health and well-being should teach others. They should motivate people to practice health and hygiene because their lives depend on it. The government should also create awareness programs about good health and well-being, and it should promote hygienic practices in the general public.
The government can also ensure clean and healthy water in places which lack it. Government can also provide insecticide - treated nets in places where they really need them. If the people in the country abide by the guidance for neatness and cleanliness introduced to them, I'm 100% sure that disease and the occurrence of deaths will be reduced. Sanitation should be the first thing to think about around our communities. We should be able to dispose of refuse properly without littering. We should also be able to clean the drainage systems. In places where there are no drainage systems community should create one and not feel it should wait for the government to do these things for them. There should be well-built toilets in every house to ensure a hygienic society.
Preparation of food should be done in a suitable and hygienic place to ensure the safety of those who will eat the food. If we ensure the safety of our health, then we will continue to move forward and reduce the risk of deaths and diseases in our country. The safety of our lives and health lies in our hands. We should always protect our health and our lives.
ABOUT THE 17 STORIES PROJECT
The 17 Stories project is an SDG Action Campaign designed to engage and motivate children towards taking action for the SDGs through the art of storytelling.
The 17 Stories project is an initiative of the Nigeria Volunteers Network (NVN) led by Vincent Odigie. The Nigerian Volunteers Network is a partner of the UN SDG Book Club African Chapter.
ABOUT THE AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES SERIES
The African Perspective Series was launched at the 2022 Nigeria International Book Fair with the first set of commissioned papers written and presented by authors of the UN SDG Book Club African Chapter. The objective of African Perspectives is to have African authors contribute to the global conversation around development challenges afflicting the African continent and to publish these important papers in the SDG Book Club blog hosted in the Stories section of the UN Namibia site. In this way, our authors’ ideas about the way forward for African development, can reach the widest possible interested audience.
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17 April 2023
THE ROLE OF AFRICAN PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSELLERS IN REALIZING THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
Walter Bogya, a well-known publisher in Tanzania, observed that indigenous publishing is integral to national identity and development, namely cultural, social, and economic. This is because such publishing reflects a peoples’ history and experience, belief systems, and their concomitant expressions through language, writing, and art. Books constitute crucial repositories of social memories and imaginations, containing the accumulated cultural capacity of society, of its accomplishments, challenges, and aspirations. Books, therefore, are not and cannot be a luxury, but a prerequisite for development, nationhood, and human progress.
The African Union Commission (AUC) undertook in-depth research on curriculum, literacy, and book sector development in 1999. In collaboration with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) the Continental Framework for National Book and Reading Policies was validated in Nairobi Kenya in 2019 and is now widely and freely available for use by member countries in formulating and implementing their National Book and Reading Policies. ADEA also produced a Tool Kit on National Book and Reading Policies along with a brochure that succinctly explains what National Book and Reading Policies are. Malawi has become the first country with the support of USAID and ADEA to formulate their National Book and Reading Policy through the Ministry of Education.
The SDG Book Club African Chapter / Publishers and Booksellers in Africa
The SDG Book Club African Chapter aims to use books as a tool to encourage children ages 6-12 to interact with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a curated reading list of books from around the African continent related to each of the 17 SDGs in—Arabic, English, French, and Kiswahili. So far, books covering the following have been identified from participating publishers across Africa. SDG 1 No Poverty; SDG 2 Zero Hunger; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Full lists can be accessed via – https://namibia.un.org/en/209341-sdg-book-club-african chapter#:~:text=The%20SDG%20Book%20Club%20African,English%2C%20French%2C%20and%20Kiswahili.
The major concern here is, books have been published and identified, but have they been made known to booksellers across Africa? What can be done to ensure that these very useful books for children are widely accessible in all African countries through bookshops? What about trade terms and trade relations between publishers and booksellers? There is need for the two continental organisations, namely APNET and PABA to begin working together like they did in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s to address some of these bottlenecks.
The Elephant in the room / Challenges in book distribution
Any book published is meant for a reader somewhere, who supposedly needs it to fulfil some purpose. Following the argument above, the mega question is: Are distribution channels readily available in Africa within and inter-country? Our experience is that it is easier to do business with countries outside Africa than to do countries with neighbouring countries. Book distribution has been a challenge that has often been discussed but without a clear answer. Yet, our position is that the UN Book Club could have afforded the best chance of opening book distribution at least for the winning titles. Given the current status in book distribution, it is our contention that the very useful books may not find their way into the hands of the intended audience. Publishers are actively involved in the project, not so the booksellers.
Reading promotion / School libraries / Public libraries and Community libraries
Along with the need to have the published books distributed, the books ought to find their ways into the wider audience via school libraries, public libraries and community libraries wherever they exist. We are aware that in most African countries, all these categories of libraries have received very little attention through government funding. There is a huge need to have the above facilities established and supported by governments. In the absence of such support noble projects like the UN Book Club Africa Chapter remain but a pipe dream for lack of reach to the intended audience. Reading is key in attaining literacy, which in turn is fundamental in acquiring education and self-fulfilment for lifelong learning.
Success / Failure of the UN Book Club Africa Chapter
To the extent that the organisers managed to bring together a dedicated team of professionals to work with African publishers who fortunately have risen to the occasion, it can be said that the project has been very successful. However, given the arguments given above regarding the reach of the titles to the booksellers and readers, we think that the project needs to rethink its strategy even as they move onto to the rest of the SDGs. We believe that there is always room for improvement and the organisers can find strategies for improving book distribution and dissemination in all African countries.
Conclusion
We alluded earlier to the efforts by the AUC and ADEA on improving the ecosystem of publishing and book trade in Africa, through National Book and Reading Policies. We think each African country needs to formulate and implement their National Book and Reading Policies if they want to achieve not only quality education and knowledge acquisition but also establish a sustainable way of knowledge creation, production, distribution, dissemination and use. Africans need to catch up with the rest of the world through books and reading if they are to assert their culture, identity and aspirations. The UN SDG Book Club Africa can be the ignition needed to bring sustainability in the African book industries.
LILY NYARIKI – CAREER PROFILE
Lily Nyariki holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Literature and two post- graduate Diplomas in Librarianship and Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and the Leeds Metropolitan University (UK) respectively. She has worked for the public sector, NGO’s and international organizations for over 30 years.
Currently, she is based in Eldoret, Kenya. Lily just retired from Moi University in June 2020 where she worked as a librarian in charge of the university bookshops for 23 years. Previously, she worked for the Kenya National Library Services Board for 14years.
Lily is published and has two books titled Publishing and Book trade in Kenya (1997) and Perspectives on Book Development in Africa (2019) as well as several papers in peer-reviewed publications. She has a special interest in developing and nurturing the habit of reading especially among children and has, since 1997, worked at the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Inter Country Quality Node, Teaching and Learning (ICQN TL) as their Focal Point for Books and Learning Materials (BLM) section. She is also an Executive Committee member of International Book Agency for Education (AILE).
ABOUT THE AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES SERIES
The African Perspective Series was launched at the 2022 Nigeria International Book Fair with the first set of commissioned papers written and presented by authors of the UN SDG Book Club African Chapter. The objective of African Perspectives is to have African authors contribute to the global conversation around development challenges afflicting the African continent and to publish these important papers in the SDG Book Club blog hosted in the Stories section of the UN Namibia site. In this way, our authors’ ideas about the way forward for African development, can reach the widest possible interested audience.
Find Brief Guide of the National Book and Reading Policies NBRP's) Formulation and Implementation in Africa: https://www.adeanet.org/sites/default/files/nbrp_brochure.pdf
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17 April 2023
Refugees in Namibia face double threat of funding cuts and climate change
Mbuyi Kayembe is one of over 7,000 residents in the Osire settlement, located in arid scrubland over 200 kilometres from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. He fled his home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1993 because of the conflict which claimed the lives of both his parents.
Mbuyi originally sought safety in Zambia, where he met his wife Mary, whose father had also been killed by rebels. When their daughter Sarah was born with albinism, their lives came under threat once again. His daughter was the target of witchcraft and Mbuyi was approached by a local army chief to buy her body parts for use in traditional medicine. Their safety in jeopardy, the family fled again, to Namibia.
At the settlement in Osire, land is set aside for refugees to grow fruit and vegetables, enabling Mbuyi to supplement the family’s food rations and providing a small income from selling the surplus crops.
"The food we are receiving doesn't last us through the month."
Today however, the once-fertile land has become inhospitable. Unseasonal weather and dwindling food rations caused by cuts to aid budgets are leaving Mbuyi’s family hungry for days at a time. With temperatures in Osire reaching nearly 40°C, and water in short supply, refugees are struggling to grow the crops that have until now been a vital source of food and income. Mbuyi is resourceful, but he now fears for the future of his five children.
“The food we are receiving doesn’t last us through the month,” he says, in the dark two-room dwelling with a single mattress where the family of seven take turns to sleep. “We haven’t received paraffin to cook with for several months. We have no choice but to look for firewood in the private farms surrounding the settlement. It is illegal but if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to cook our food. Our children would starve.”
“Sarah can’t go outside without getting sun burnt,” he adds. “By midday, it’s so hot outside and it pains me as a parent to see her struggle with this. I have to sell the few rations I receive to buy sunscreen lotion for her.”
Located 90 minutes from the nearest town, refugees in Osire are isolated from opportunities to integrate and reliant on humanitarian assistance.
Just as needs are increasing, aid in the region is under severe pressure due to the sharp increase in fuel and food costs. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi recently warned that without an injection of US$700 million in additional funding before the end of the year, UNHCR will be forced to cut vital aid to forcibly displaced people across the world.
In Namibia, the impact of inflation has meant that the budget allocated by UNHCR to fund a year’s worth of food for refugees has lasted only eight months. Osire’s livelihoods project, supporting refugees in small-scale farming and animal-rearing so they can be more self-sufficient, was already cut in September.
See also: Out of the Spotlight: Away from the headlines millions of forcibly displaced people are being pushed to the brinkLink is external
Climate change is compounding these challenges. Low rainfall has resulted in a poor harvest: the two acres provided to refugees to farm should already be full of plump watermelons, but without water, the melons have split open before they are fully grown. Rows of onions and corn are withered and burnt. Half of the settlement’s boreholes have run dry.
“Here in the desert, if we don’t have food, we cannot survive,” says single mother Chantal Mwamarakiza, who was forced to flee Burundi when her husband was beaten to death. The refuge she has found in Namibia is now uncertain as the seasonal rains are yet to arrive and soaring temperatures are undermining her ability to support her family. “We are cultivating our gardens but the water has run dry so nothing will grow. I have to sell my rations of beans and maize for other kinds of food for the children and sometimes I don’t have money for them to go to school.”
Martin Byendimbwa, chairperson of the Refugee Community Committee of Namibia and an active advocate for his fellow refugees, echoes these concerns.
“The problem is inflation,” he says. “The price of a bag of maize meal, our staple food, keeps going up. I am grateful to the Government of Namibia for giving us this settlement but without the right to employment, we can’t support ourselves and we can’t make use of our education.”
"I'm crying for my children's future."
The head of UNHCR’s office in Namibia Bernadette Muteshi is concerned about the consequences of underfunding for refugees. “Our budget has plummeted, which is why we have to take tough decisions to cut services,” she explains. “We’re only giving basic rations which only last for three weeks of the month. We don’t have extra funds to give more support to those in need like pregnant and nursing mothers, or people living with HIV and AIDS. Refugees are left to make up the shortfall and they are struggling because of the drought.
“We desperately need donors to help support this population with immediate and sustainable assistance. Not doing that will mean they are left behind. It’s heart-breaking.”
At the UN’s Climate Conference, COP27, being held this month, the UN Secretary General is calling for the international community to protect the most vulnerable from the ravages of the climate emergency. Still suffering the aftershocks of brutal conflict and now facing food insecurity, without urgent intervention, Namibia’s refugees are at risk of becoming a forgotten population.
“I’m crying for my children’s future,” says Mbuyi. “I can see my future is darker because of the years that are passing. I lost my whole life. I studied mechanics but I don’t have a job. I’m praying for my kids to not to have a life like mine.”
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Story
12 April 2023
UN Namibia and Ministry of Health and Social Services 1000 Days Campaign
To support the Ministry of Health and Social Services, WHO and WFP trained 37 Community Health Workers, 962 pregnant and lactating women and 286 men in Ohangwena and Otjozondjupa regions, on exclusive breastfeeding, complementary food, food preservation using the solar dryer, WASH, and food safety.
This campaign includes an 8-month NBC media plan until October 2023, comprised of radio messages in 9 local vernacular languages and 15 second video clips and recipe cards for social media.
The 1000 Days Campaign has been officially launched on NBC and we hereby request your assistance in disseminating our content further on the UN Namibia platforms and other radio channels within your network.
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Press Release
28 November 2022
Labour Migration Governance Key to Protecting Migrant Workers in Southern Africa
The President of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Mnagwanga will officially open the high-level conference which seeks to find ways to foster fair and effective labour migration governance and the protection of migrant workers in Southern Africa. Led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the High-Level Tripartite Dialogue is a culmination of activities and research organised by the Southern African Migration Management (SAMM) Project to identify priorities at the national level and advance in the implementation of country-level labour migration policies and action plans in the SADC region.
It is designed to improve migration management in the Southern African and Indian Ocean region guided by, and contributing to the realisation of, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda goal 8 on decent work and economic growth and goal 10 on reducing inequality and Objective 6 of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) to Facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work.
Since almost half of all migrant workers in the SADC region are women, the conference will spotlight the importance of labour migration policies to be gender-responsive and evidence-based. For many women, as for men, migration can represent a positive experience and have important emancipating and empowering impacts.
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA, year ), the feminization of migration has reached significant levels in the Southern African region with 47 per cent of all migrants being female.
But often female migrants are confronted with gender specific disadvantages and vulnerability in the migration process and in their employment. Women workers, especially young female migrants, often end up in situations of double or even triple discrimination, disadvantage, marginalization and vulnerability (including violence and harassment as well as forced labour.
“Maximizing the benefits of labour migration and minimizing the risks and social costs requires sound and effective labour migration governance,” said Ms. Hopalong Phororo, ILO Director for ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia. “Expert studies and data show that migration, particularly labour migration, is an important enabler and beneficiary of regional integration and economic development in Africa.”
Across the world, migration is largely linked to the search for a job and better wages, and even if employment is not the primary driver, it usually features in the migration process at some point. In Southern Africa, as in many parts of the world, migrants face prejudice, intolerance and stigmatization in their workplaces and communities.
“It is necessary to advocate for improved migration management in Southern Africa, as a pivotal approach to addressing the challenges of migration, and ensuring that migration has a positive outcome for the country, migrants, and the members of their families”, said Mr. Ashraf El Nour, IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa.
The Southern African region has had a long history of intra-regional migration. All Member States of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) are involved in labour migration flows as countries of origin, transit, or destination and often they play the three roles at the same time.
In the SADC region, migrant workers are present in agriculture, fishing, mining, construction, food processing, domestic work, caregiving, cleaning, restaurants-hotels, transportation and retail trade.
The two day conference will promote fair, ethical and effective labour migration governance through tripartism that brings Ministries of Labour/Employment, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, as well as workers’ and employers’ organisations and social dialogue particularly in the development of rights-based, gender-sensitive and evidence-based labour migration legislation and policies, taking account of labour market needs.
The conference will assess labour migration governance progress so far, gaps and challenges as well as main opportunities to consider in the SADC region. It will also identify tripartite constituents’ labour migration governance priority areas of collaboration, share existing and proposed good practices and recommendations and mention current roles and contributions. It will also provide a platform to tripartite partners to re-organise and re-strategize on labour migration governance in Southern Africa
About the SAMM Project
The SAMM Project is a United Nations Multi-Agency programme composed of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The European Union is supporting and funding the implementation of the project.
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Press Release
25 November 2022
Message for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Every 11 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member — and we know that other stresses, from the COVID-19 pandemic to economic turmoil, inevitably lead to even more physical and verbal abuse.
Women and girls also face rampant online violence, from misogynistic hate speech, to sexual harassment, image abuse and grooming by predators.
This discrimination, violence and abuse targeting half of humanity comes at a steep cost. It limits women’s and girls’ participation in all walks of life, denies their basic rights and freedoms, and blocks the equal economic recovery and sustainable growth our world needs.
Now is the time for transformative action that ends violence against women and girls.
This means governments designing, funding and implementing national action plans to tackle this scourge.
It means involving grassroots and civil society groups at every stage of decision-making.
It means ensuring that laws are implemented and respected, so survivors see their rights to justice and support upheld.
It means supporting public campaigns that challenge patriarchal norms and reject misogyny and violence.
And as this year’s theme — “UNITE: Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls” — reminds us, it means standing with activists around the world who are calling for change and supporting survivors of violence. I call on governments to increase funding by 50 per cent to women’s rights organizations and movements by 2026.
Let’s take a stand and raise our voices in support of women’s rights.
Let’s proudly declare: We are all feminists.
Let’s consign violence against women and girls to the history books.
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Press Release
26 October 2022
WFP calls for action following World Food Day to avoid another year of global record hunger
“We are facing an unprecedented global food crisis, and all signs suggest we have not yet seen the worst. For the last three years, hunger numbers have repeatedly hit new peaks,” said WFP Executive Director David Beasley.
"Let me be clear: things can and will get worse unless there is a large-scale and coordinated effort to address the root causes of this crisis. We cannot have another year of record hunger".
The global food crisis is a confluence of competing crises – caused by climate shocks, conflict, the prolonged impact of COVID-19 and economic pressures – that has continued to push up the number of severely food insecure people all around the world, including in Namibia, where out of a population of 2.3M, there are 0.3M (13%) who are consuming food insufficiently.
In WFP Namibia, we strive to achieve a better life for all through 32 sustainable food systems projects across the country with 1,457 direct beneficiaries. Additionally, 29 schools are piloting Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) projects with 11,730 beneficiaries. Finally, for cash-based transfers through the
Japanese government, 17,712 vulnerable people have been selected in Omaheke, Kunene and Oshikoto regions, including nearly 3,700 malnourished children under the age of five. Each family will receive a value voucher equivalent to US$ 38 per month for three months (October 2022- December 2022) to cope with the inflation in the price of food and commodities secondary to the Ukraine-Russia war. Building on this year’s theme for World Food Day – “No one left behind” – WFP calls for coordinated effort across governments, financial institutions (IFIs), the private sector, and partners to mitigate an even more severe food crisis in 2023. This includes reinforcing national economies, social protection
systems, and regional and domestic food systems – at speed and scale. "It is the business of each of us to practice the theme of this day by planting one fruit tree together with a crop wherever we live,’’ said Ms Ericah Shafudah, Deputy Country Representative of WFP Namibia. This year’s World Food Day (WFD) celebration took place in Uukwiyuushona village on the premises of Uukwiyuushona Combined School on Saturday, 15th October 2022. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) spearheaded the preparation of WFD, and WFP participated as a sponsor. The role of WFP was to support one beneficiary (a 55-year-old female farmer in Oshana) in setting up a shade-netted garden of 0.5 ha for the planting of spinach, carrots, cabbage and beetroot among other vegetables, for a diversified diet including income generation. The farmer will use the vegetables to
support a kindergarten with 19 children and a household of 7 people (26 beneficiaries in total). The total support cost for this activity was N$60,000 (US$ 3,500). Another activity for this event was capturing a video as part of the FAO-WFP Namibia school meals Campaign (SMC) in the Mphe Thuto Primary School, Omaheke region. The video was selected for showcasing during the Junior World Food Day on the 14th of October 2022. While these efforts provide succour to some of the severely vulnerable, it is against a challenging global backdrop in which the number of acutely hungry people continues to increase requiring a concerted global action for peace, economic stability and continued humanitarian support to ensure food security around the world. Other sponsors participating in the celebration by implementing various activities were the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), GIZ Namibia, Namibia Agronomic Board, Agri Gro, Coca Cola, NamWater, MeatCo, Namport, Choppies Namibia, Marco Fishing Charitable Trust, Namibia Agricultural Mechanization and Seed Improvement Programme (NAMSIP), Agro Marketing and Trading Agency (AMTA), Shivute Family Trust, Oshakati Town Council, Kaap Agri, Uukwambi Traditional Authority and the Ombandja Traditional Authority. The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on Twitter_ @WFP_Africa, @WFPNamibia. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram: @WFPNamibia For more information, please contact the following persons:
Luise Shikongo, Communications and Reporting Associate, WFP/ Namibia: luise.shikongo@wfp.org
Rawan Taha, Operational Information Management (OIM) and Performance Reporting (PR) Officer, WFP/ Namibia: rawan.taha@wfp.org
Japanese government, 17,712 vulnerable people have been selected in Omaheke, Kunene and Oshikoto regions, including nearly 3,700 malnourished children under the age of five. Each family will receive a value voucher equivalent to US$ 38 per month for three months (October 2022- December 2022) to cope with the inflation in the price of food and commodities secondary to the Ukraine-Russia war. Building on this year’s theme for World Food Day – “No one left behind” – WFP calls for coordinated effort across governments, financial institutions (IFIs), the private sector, and partners to mitigate an even more severe food crisis in 2023. This includes reinforcing national economies, social protection
systems, and regional and domestic food systems – at speed and scale. "It is the business of each of us to practice the theme of this day by planting one fruit tree together with a crop wherever we live,’’ said Ms Ericah Shafudah, Deputy Country Representative of WFP Namibia. This year’s World Food Day (WFD) celebration took place in Uukwiyuushona village on the premises of Uukwiyuushona Combined School on Saturday, 15th October 2022. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) spearheaded the preparation of WFD, and WFP participated as a sponsor. The role of WFP was to support one beneficiary (a 55-year-old female farmer in Oshana) in setting up a shade-netted garden of 0.5 ha for the planting of spinach, carrots, cabbage and beetroot among other vegetables, for a diversified diet including income generation. The farmer will use the vegetables to
support a kindergarten with 19 children and a household of 7 people (26 beneficiaries in total). The total support cost for this activity was N$60,000 (US$ 3,500). Another activity for this event was capturing a video as part of the FAO-WFP Namibia school meals Campaign (SMC) in the Mphe Thuto Primary School, Omaheke region. The video was selected for showcasing during the Junior World Food Day on the 14th of October 2022. While these efforts provide succour to some of the severely vulnerable, it is against a challenging global backdrop in which the number of acutely hungry people continues to increase requiring a concerted global action for peace, economic stability and continued humanitarian support to ensure food security around the world. Other sponsors participating in the celebration by implementing various activities were the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), GIZ Namibia, Namibia Agronomic Board, Agri Gro, Coca Cola, NamWater, MeatCo, Namport, Choppies Namibia, Marco Fishing Charitable Trust, Namibia Agricultural Mechanization and Seed Improvement Programme (NAMSIP), Agro Marketing and Trading Agency (AMTA), Shivute Family Trust, Oshakati Town Council, Kaap Agri, Uukwambi Traditional Authority and the Ombandja Traditional Authority. The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on Twitter_ @WFP_Africa, @WFPNamibia. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram: @WFPNamibia For more information, please contact the following persons:
Luise Shikongo, Communications and Reporting Associate, WFP/ Namibia: luise.shikongo@wfp.org
Rawan Taha, Operational Information Management (OIM) and Performance Reporting (PR) Officer, WFP/ Namibia: rawan.taha@wfp.org
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Press Release
22 August 2022
Connected African Girls Coding Camp Brings ICT skills to Namibian girls
The coding camp is commissioned by ECA (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa) in partnership with the government of The Republic of Namibia (MICT), UN Namibia, UN WOMEN, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and Telecom Namibia.
The hybrid training brings together African women and girls between 12 to 25 years of age, with 100 from Namibia physically attending while hundreds more join virtually from around the African continent. The coding camp runs from 16 - 24 August 2022 and is hosted at the Windhoek Palm Hotel.
“The Government of the Republic of Namibia continues to support projects like the Connected African Girls Coding Camp as they directly benefit and uplift our citizens. The Government through the Ministry of ICT is committed to implementing effective legislation that provides easy access to ICTS with the aim of creating a knowledge-based society. Over the years, the Government has made significant strides to integrate digital technology with the national development objectives,” says Hon. Dr. Peya Mushelenga, Minister of Information and Communication Technology during his keynote address during the official opening.
“In our endeavors to ‘leave no one behind’ to harness ICTs in education will go a long way in contributing to achieving Goal 17 of Agenda 2063’s aspiration 6 which seeks to eliminate all barriers to quality education, health and social services for women and girls on the African continent,” says Sen Pang, UN Resident Coordinator, UN Namibia.
The African Connected Girls initiative aims to narrow the digital gap by empowering young African women and girls with the necessary foundational building-block skills to find long-term success in education, employment, and entrepreneurship, while creating a conducive environment for collaborative efforts.
The Namibian Connected African Girls Coding camp features four main workshops on animation, web development & gaming, IoT & robotics, and 3D printing. Graphic design is included as a common course in line with artificial intelligence, design thinking, and computational thinking. This camp will also feature master classes on Gender-Based Violence, UN SDGs, and Agenda 2063 including personal development skills.
“To prepare our young women to lead the fourth industrial revolution, we must champion initiatives such as the Connected African Girl initiative. Coding has become the new literacy! Girls and young Namibian women need to become digitally savvy and active participants in shaping Namibia's digital future,” says Jean Paul Adam, Director, Technology, Climate Change and Natural resources Division, UNECA.
On the final day of the camp, an innovation fair will be held enabling the girls to showcase their projects developed during the coding camp by targeting solution-oriented ideas in response to the continent’s socio-economic challenges. In the last four editions of the coding camp, trainees
have developed 198 innovative projects, of which 40 were recognized for their contributions to the community. Some attendees from the Connected African Girls Coding Camp shared what they hoped to achieve with this initiative: "I want to learn more skills to train others and start up computer classes at our school. I would like to learn more about ethical hacking." - Ndapandula Hango, Grootfontein, Grade 10 "People are using technology more in this modern age, children must learn to use technology. I use technology for research and play games. I really want to learn to create my own games." - Caren Sue Kahmann, Hardap Region, Grade 9. "I am obsessed with gaming. I want to gain more skills on how to design games and code. I am here for the skills that I can learn." - Theresia Ndilimeke, Grade 10 Khomas Region "My younger brother introduced me to coding initially. In grade 10 I realised how important it is in relation to my subjects. I am very interested to learn how to use my subjects ( in the workshop) in a way that will help me develop new ways of entrepreneurship and help me improve the living standards in rural areas. - Latoya Bernard, Otjikoto Region, Grade 12
have developed 198 innovative projects, of which 40 were recognized for their contributions to the community. Some attendees from the Connected African Girls Coding Camp shared what they hoped to achieve with this initiative: "I want to learn more skills to train others and start up computer classes at our school. I would like to learn more about ethical hacking." - Ndapandula Hango, Grootfontein, Grade 10 "People are using technology more in this modern age, children must learn to use technology. I use technology for research and play games. I really want to learn to create my own games." - Caren Sue Kahmann, Hardap Region, Grade 9. "I am obsessed with gaming. I want to gain more skills on how to design games and code. I am here for the skills that I can learn." - Theresia Ndilimeke, Grade 10 Khomas Region "My younger brother introduced me to coding initially. In grade 10 I realised how important it is in relation to my subjects. I am very interested to learn how to use my subjects ( in the workshop) in a way that will help me develop new ways of entrepreneurship and help me improve the living standards in rural areas. - Latoya Bernard, Otjikoto Region, Grade 12
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Press Release
12 August 2022
Joint Launch of Projects Funded by the Japanese Supplementary Budget
The projects, aimed at furthering the Sustainable Development Goals, will be supported by the Japanese Supplementary Budget.
The package from the Japanese Government amounts to more than U$3.2 million, and it will be distributed to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
I’m confident that through our integrated, multi-sector approach to development programming, and by drawing upon skills and capabilities from around the region and internationally, UN Namibia will make a lasting contribution to addressing Namibia’s development priorities for the benefit of generations to come
- Mr. Sen Pang, UN Namibia Resident Coordinator.
The projects plan to assist the government of Namibia by providing emergency responses to locust-affected regions, promoting Carbon Markets and mitigating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), among other issues.
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Latest Resources
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Resources
06 February 2023
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