Capacity Building & Training

Lack of capacity has been identified as one of the main bottlenecks for sustainable development in Namibia (see Vision 2030, National Development Plan 2 mid-term review and National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) reports). It is widely recognized that the lack of capacity at the national, regional and local levels for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, including for its mainstreaming, stems from:

The primary targeted groups are the national (e.g. MME, MET, MFMR, MRLGHRD, MWTC and MAWF), regional (Regional Councils) and local (Local Authorities) governments and other ICZMC members involved in CZM.

In partnership with other initiatives, NACOMA will provide cost-effective training to the identified stakeholder groups. It will further provide targeted support to MET’s efforts to mainstream and enhance biodiversity management by specifically strengthening local and regional delivery mechanisms.

Some of the general capacity-building themes identified to date are:

Training and capacity building in the above mentioned themes will be provided through technical assistance from the PCO and other national and international thematic experts, thematic training workshops, on-the-job training, and study tours.

This activity is linked to the ongoing decentralization process as well as contributes to improved effectiveness of institutions engaged in ICZM by filling the capacity gap at local, regional and national levels regarding ICZM, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. It would, thus, facilitate the mainstreaming of coastal biodiversity and resources into development planning, decision-making and key economic activities.

Government officials learn about integrated coastal management

Government officials, who would have to ensure that Namibia’s coast is managed in an integrated way in future, are currently equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills during a series of capacity building courses at the coast and in Windhoek. Politicians will be sensitized on the unique coastal environment through appropriate high-level seminars and study tours.

One of the key deliverables of the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (NACOMA) Project is to build the required capacity, train and sensitize political decision makers, managers and officials in Ministries, the coastal Regions and Municipalities. They should be able to manage the Namibian coast in an integrated and sustainable way, ensuring that the coastal biodiversity is conserved through co-management and that socio-economic development takes place in harmony with the natural resources in order to cater for today and the future.

A limited understanding of coastal biodiversity and linkages to development planning and management had been identified as some of the shortcomings among government officials, said Mr. Rod Braby, Coordinator of the NACOMA project.  Also, uncoordinated sectoral efforts and weak, fragmented communication between the various stakeholders are limitations towards better-integrated coastal management.

With the assistance of a group of coastal environmental and planning experts, the project started with a series of training courses in June, aimed at the various government levels, ranging from politicians down to operational and technical staff, according to Mr. Ignatius Kauvee, the Training Coordinator.

He said various courses are being offered in this first round and they will carry on well into October this year. The attendees are also taken on field trips to learn about the problems and issues the coastal environment has to deal with as well as to see about the unique and sensitive flora and fauna being found there.

Mr. Kauvee said the presenters are experts in Integrated Coastal Zone Management from Namibia, South Africa and the USA and topics range from Sustainable Development Tools, Strategic Planning, Governance, Resource Economics to Data Analysis and Management.

Coastal zones throughout the world have historically been among the most heavily exploited areas because of their rich resources. In many coastal countries half of the population live in the coastal zones while migration from the inland areas is increasing.

In Namibia a smaller percentage of the population is living at the coast, but as in other coastal countries there is a sharp conflict between the utilization of the resources and their sustainability over the long-term. In some countries this conflict has reached critical stages due to severe pollution, the degradation of fish resources, watersheds or wetlands being drained.

A management approach to maintain or restore coastal resources through good governance has been proposed in international agreements and adopted worldwide called: Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), According to the Guidelines for Integrated Coastal Zone Management by Jan C. Post and Carl. G. Lundin, ICZM is a process of governance and consists of the legal and institutional framework necessary to ensure that development and management plans for coastal zones are integrated with environmental (including social) goals and are made with the participation of those affected.

“The purpose of ICZM is to maximize the benefits provided by the coastal zone and to minimize the conflicts and harmful effects of activities upon each other, on resources and the environment.”

“The coastal zone is often subject to overlapping governance of local, provincial (regional) and central governments, resulting in interagency conflicts and unclear policy concerning resource development and management and environmental protection.”

Namibia is already close to a national coastal policy, which will among many issues address ICZM, said Mr. Braby. A Coastal White Paper for Namibia is another deliverable by the NACOMA Project.

The coastal Green Paper, preceding a White Paper and the eventual National Coastal Policy, has been launched a week ago. The Green Paper document is an outline of the key findings, the need for a Coastal Policy, a Vision for the coast, and principles, goals and objectives for coastal governance. It also presents the options for institutional and legal arrangements towards implementing these options.

Mr. Braby said the Green Paper the result of an extensive process of public consultation and specialist studies, followed by the Ministry and the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project since the policy formulation process started in early 2006.

He said it is envisaged that the White Paper would be completed towards the end of this year after which the endorsement by Cabinet and implementation would take place towards the end of 2010 or beginning of 2011.

Government officials receive certificates for training in Integrated Coastal Management

The Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (NACOMA) project and the University of Namibia on last Friday (12 February 2010) at Langstrand handed over certificates to representatives of line Ministries, the Coastal Regional Councils and Local Authorities for the successful completion of short courses in Integrated Coastal Management.

Officials from the Ministries of Environment and Tourism, Fisheries and Marine Resources; Regional and Local Government and Housing and Rural Development; Mines and Energy; the Regional Councils of Kunene, Erongo, Hardap and Karas; as well as the municipalities of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Henties Bay, Lüderitz, Arandis and relevant village councils attended various short courses at the coast and in Windhoek from June till October last year.

A total of 307 certificates will be handed over at the work place of the officials who were trained in Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Resource Economics, Governance in Integrated Management, Tools for Sustainable Coastal Management, Data Management and Data Analysis and Strategic Planning.

One of the key deliverables of the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (NACOMA) project, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism is to build the required capacity, train and sensitize political decision makers, managers and officials in line Ministries, the coastal Regions and Local Authorities to manage the Namibian coast in an integrated and sustainable way in future.

The politicians and officials will have to ensure that the coastal biodiversity is conserved through co-management and that socio-economic development takes place in harmony with the natural resources.

Mr. Ignatius Kauvee, Technical Advisor of the NACOMA project, and who acted as Task Manager of the training, said the consultancy team consisted of the University of Namibia, University of Cape Town and the Polytechnic of Namibia, while the presenters were experts in Integrated Coastal Zone Management from Namibia, South Africa and the USA.

Mr. Kauvee said the training would assist the politicians and officials in thinking and operating in a more integrated way between the various authorities, ensuring intergovernmental, spatial, science discipline integration.

The coastal zone is often subject to overlapping governance of local, regional and central governments, resulting in interagency conflicts and unclear policy regarding resource development, management and environmental protection.

Coastal zones throughout the world have historically been among the most heavily exploited areas because of their rich resources. Although a small percentage of the population of Namibia is living at the coast, there is a sharp conflict between the utilization of the resources and their sustainability over the long-term.

A management approach to maintain or restore coastal resources through good governance has been proposed in international agreements and adopted worldwide called: Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

Mr. Kauvee said the training will expanded further by means of further short courses, high level seminars, research, study tours, online courses and Integrates Coastal Management conference as well as post-graduate studies. The training will also be evaluated to improve the curricula and presentations.

During the handing-over ceremony at Langstrand certificates in Basic and Advanced Computer Training as well as in First Aid Training were also handed over to Wardens and Rangers from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

For more information and downloading reports linked to this activity, please visit Reports & Publications.