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Nawa 19 |
Aug 18 2003 |
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LAUNCH OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE PROGRAM IN NAMIBIA
 The Discovery Channel Global Education Fund (DCGEF), the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture (MBESC) and a host of other local Information and ICT organizations, in partnership with USAID, launched a pilot program on July 9, 2003, to introduce video technology into Namibian schools. More than six hundred learners, parents, community and regional leaders and government officials attended the ceremony, which was held at the Groot Aub Junior Secondary School, 40 kilometers outside of Namibia`s capital city of Windhoek.
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The pilot program establishes Learning Centers in twelve schools in disadvantaged communities across the country. Each Learning Center is equipped with a TV, VCR, satellite technology, and customized educational video programming from DCGEF. In addition to the equipment and programming, DCGEF is providing teacher training in the effective, interactive use of TV and video in the classroom. Community members will also benefit from the project through expanded access to global information, health education, literacy and other applications.
MBESC Minister John Mutorwa called upon teachers, learners and the broader communities of all twelve beneficiary pilot learning centers to make extensive use of the equipment in order to enhance the quality of learning in and outside of the classroom. U.S. Ambassador Kevin McGuire said that "Learning Centers such as this one will allow a transformation to take place in the classroom whereby children will be able to experience the world through their own senses, not just through the eyes or words of others."
In addition to enhancing the quality of learning, the new technology will help Namibia make more efficient use of its teachers. Increasing the efficiency of Namibia`s teaching force is critical in the face of growing teacher absences, and an anticipated shortage of teachers, resulting from Namibia’s high rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence.
The DCGEF activity is a Global Development Alliance (GDA), whereby USAID provides a dollar match for every dollar or more contributed by the participating partners. It is one of three GDAs to help address expected teacher shortages in Namibian through the use of ICT in the education system. The other two GDAs are focused on the introduction of computer and internet technology in the school system. |
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FIGHTING CORRUPTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
 An educational booklet to inform Namibian citizens about issues relating to corruption was recently launched during a workshop on integrity systems at local government level in Otjiwarongo. The publication, entitled The Namibian Resident`s Guide to Integrity in Local Government, explains what integrity means; what corruption is and what social and economic consequences it has; identifies what the responsibilities of Local Authorities are; provides examples of corruption at local authority level; reviews the options available to citizens to fight corruption in Local Authorities; and provides the relevant details for watchdog agencies that can be contacted by concerned residents.
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The booklet, which was published by the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) and the Namibia Association for Local Authority Officers (NALAO) with financial support from Management Systems International (MSI), forms part of a USAID-funded program to strengthen integrity systems in Local Authorities in Namibia.
The one-week workshop brought together Officers and Councillors of various Local Authorities to discuss internal procedures that might be prone to corrupt practices and to address previously identified areas of risk that include human resource policies, procurement procedures and land allocation. Policies addressing these vulnerabilities have been drafted by participating municipalities with the intent of strengthening integrity systems in these key areas. In opening the workshop, the Mayor of Otjiwarongo, Cllr. Otto Ipinge, reminded the participants that all forms of corruption need to be contained. He stressed that Namibian Local Authorities could not afford the consequences of these dishonest practices, such as the inefficiency that accompanies corruption, and the impact on economic and social development, and the quality and price of goods and services. He stated that many of the instances of corruption currently prevalent in Namibia are due to poorly defined administrative rules and regulations and the wide discretionary powers wielded by some public servants. Corruption results from lack of accountability, as a result of poorly defined ethical standards for the public service and weak administrative and financial systems. The Mayor called for a broad-based strategy to systematically combat corruption on many fronts and on all levels. Such an approach meant active citizens working together with their local authorities and building effective watchdog agencies. |
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BRONZE MEDAL FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOCCER TEAM AT WORLD GAMES
 The Namibia Special Olympics Soccer Team participated at the 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Dublin, Ireland, from June 21-29, 2003. This inspirational showcase event was the largest sporting event in the world this year. More than 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and official delegates and more than 30,000 volunteers and 28,000 family members and friends participated in the World Games. Athletes competed in 21 Olympic-type sports.
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The Namibia Team had a differentiated ability five-member soccer team that participated in the games. Before leaving for Dublin, the team was in camp for ten days in Windhoek for final preparations, which included both mental and physical preparation. The Namibian team competed against the best Special Olympics teams from across the globe and won a bronze medal.
The World Games, apart from providing a test of fitness, social interaction and a forum at which athletes demonstrated their personal ability and courage, have also been an attitude-changing platform to the so-called "able World"and to the athletes themselves in many ways, telling the world to begin looking at them differently.
The Special Olympics Namibian Team’s attendance at the Games was made possible through a three-year grant to the Special Olympics International Organization by USAID’s Education for Development and Democracy Initiative (EDDI). |
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USAID APPROVES NEW NAMIBIA STRATEGY
 USAID`s Assistant Administrator for Africa, Constance Newman, has approved USAID/Namibia`s Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2004-2010. The approval followed a year-long process that included a successful request to the Africa Bureau for program extension last August, a six-month in-country strategy design process, and technical and programmatic reviews in Washington in June. Mission Director Diana Swain, Program Officer Kirk Dahlgren and HIV/AIDS Advisor C. Kirk Lazell, represented the Mission at the Washington reviews.
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Under the new strategy, the Mission is authorized to continue working in the five areas in which it is currently engaged, including basic education, CBNRM, HIV/AIDS, democracy/governance, and private sector development. However, based on discussions with the Government of Namibia and other partners, some strategic shifts within these areas are planned. As well, USAID anticipates continued sharp increases in funding for HIV/AIDS programs.
According to Mission Director Swain, the Mission "will be going through an intense process over the months to come to authorize these new programs, to design activities, and to compete and award new contracts and grants."She added that at the same time, the Mission will also be concentrating on wrapping up ongoing activities that support its current strategy. |
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