Learning from the past, building a future of strengthened cooperation

Heads of agencies, members of the Development Coordination Office (DCO), Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and the Resident Coordinator’s team participated in the retreat.

This two and a half day in-person retreat embodied the spirit of the UN reform strengthening cooperation and identifying opportunities for collaborative, coherent action to further the Republic of Namibia’s development agenda and to achieve the sustainable development goals.

The formulation of the retreat agenda under the theme: ‘Learning from the past, building a future of strengthened cooperation’ was preceded by a dialogue session with Executive Directors (EDs) of the Namibian Government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focusing on the 2023 priorities, areas for strengthening the current 2019-2024 United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPAF), and the transformative principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially on the leave no-one behind programming principle.

The exchange of views provided an opportunity for taking a comprehensive look to reinforce and strengthen the current alliance in the context of the UN Namibia partnership framework and Cooperation Framework in parallel to the country’s 6th National Development Plan (NDP6). In this sense, looking at opportunities to improve the collection of data and statistics for SDGs acceleration and policymaking.

Ms. Phororo welcomed participants with her remarks motivating her team and the organization as a whole, with an inspiring vision, “the UN is a trusted, neutral and impartial partner of choice providing coordinated, effective and efficient support for transformative, sustainable and inclusive results to realize the SDGs in Namibia.”

A unique aspect of the retreat was to foster synergies of ‘Delivery as One’ and keep positioning the UN better to deliver results and advance the SDGs. Discussions centered around highlighting UN Namibia’s achievements and lessons learned under the current UNPAF, key priorities, and opportunities for joint UN programmes with a deliberate move from a siloed approach to development. high.

During the retreat, presentations on proposition papers delivered by the RCO Team provided a springboard, which encouraged sharing lessons learned and ensured commitment in more joint interventions, joint field missions, joint capacities, carpooling and to implement an area-based programme as a case study for a One UN approach.

During the retreat, transformative interventions to reach vulnerable populations, youth unemployment, and climate change were discussed under the UNPAF and moving towards the formulation of the Cooperation Framework (CF) as a vehicle to have impact and in obtaining inclusive results.

Communication was noted as the key to strong and successful partnerships and resource mobilization. By positioning the Resident Coordinator’s Office to be the trusted platform for partners to connect and to create opportunities and solutions to facilitate a centered approach, across the house. Given Namibia’s Upper Middle Income (UMIC) classification and the limited access to funding windows, the UN is best placed to undertake assessments, provide technical expertise, share experiences and lessons from other countries to guide the government in policy making and decisions.