Irene !hoaës
24 July 2008
Windhoek — The National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Embassy of Sweden launched and handed over the participatory review and evaluation (PRE) publication of Swedish-Namibian cooperation on environment and natural resources to the ministries of Environment and Tourism and Agriculture, Water and Forestry, respectively.
The review and evaluation process focused on key projects and programmes which Namibia and Sweden jointly executed over the years, such as community-based natural resource management, community-based tourism in north-western and southern Namibia, as well as the institutionalisation of environmental economics and natural resource accounting system.
The Swedish government provided funding of approximately N$1 million, which was used for the updating and reprinting of Wetlands Namibia and Best Practices in Grant Making, the digitilisation and reproduction in searchable and indexed CD format of various papers, among others.
The Swedish government, which started phasing out its traditional grant support to Namibia, opted to develop and deepen other forms of cooperation and relations such as partnerships between institutions in the two countries - referred to as actor-driven cooperation.
The Swedish Chargé d'Affaires, Lena Johansson Blomstrand, said the review provides a complete picture of what Sweden has been involved in, in the sector and how.
"When interested Swedish and Namibian partners come, we can hand over the material and say - this is what we did and these are some opportunities for the future," Johansson Blomstrand said.
The Director General of the NPC, Professor Peter Katjavivi, said the evaluation and review process helped to ensure that Namibia gets maximum benefits from its natural resources and environment while it built a basis for future cooperation.
"It is my sincere hope that the materials we distribute today will be helpful in crafting future plans, programmes and projects to deal with matters related to the environment," Katjavivi noted.
He added that the review presents Namibia with an opportunity to take stock of the past, assess progress and indicate challenges facing various sectors, particularly the environment.
"In pursuance for environment sustainability, we need to focus more on management of natural resources and its biodiversity, mitigate the effects of pollution and waste from industrial development, mainstream climate change adaptation and improved advocacy for environmental concerns awareness and education," Katjavivi reminded the recipients of the material.
Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Leon Jooste, and Director of Forestry at the Agricultural Ministry, Joseph Hailwa, received the publications on behalf of the respective ministries.
Some of the material will also be made accessible on government websites.
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