MCA Namibia. Millennium Challenge Account Namibia

Transcription

1 reducing poverty through economic growth Millennium Challenge Account

2 Dear Reader The Millennium Challenge Account (-N) is a large-scale development programme to reduce poverty through economic growth. -N s projects are funded by the United States government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation with US$ million (N$ 2.2 billion) and focus on education, tourism and agriculture. Penny Akwenye CEO, This five-year programme started in September We are currently at the half-way mark and honoured to share with you what -N has achieved so far in implementing the government s development efforts. Approximately half of the grant money is invested in the rehabilitation and construction of crucial infrastructure such as schools, houses, quarantine camps and veterinary offices for cattle as well as in technical assistance to communal farmers and members of nature conservancies. Thirteen of a total of 47 schools have been upgraded and are already utilised by thousands of n children who can now enjoy better education facilities. -N has provided close to 700,000 new school books, a number which will be doubled to 1.4 million during the second half of the project. Farmers in the North are trained and provided with effective trading tools, whereas the tourism industry has been equipped with tailor-made programmes to successfully market as a travel destination abroad. Another aim of -N is that rural communities located in and around nature conservancies will benefit significantly from tourism activities in their area. In its efforts to combat poverty through economic growth, -N has implemented a transparent work culture that involves s civil society, complies with strict environmental standards, commits itself to independent quality supervision and the use of certified construction materials. The success of -N s development programme shall be measured by results and results only.

3 EDUCATION Books - the cornerstone of our children s education The first tranche of 695,000 textbooks was delivered to 950 schools, community libraries and needy private schools in. This -N activity addresses gaps in the country s textbook provision in the fields of English, mathematics and science literature for grades 5 to 12. Teachers and school staff are trained in textbook management and utilization. Before: Old textbooks After: New textbooks Rehoboth Primary School Principal David Titus receives much needed educational textbooks. 13 Schools upgraded - 34 more to come. 695,000 Textbooks delivered to schools and community libraries - 705,000 more to come. 47 schools to shine in new splendour Even the best and most dedicated teachers cannot provide our children with quality education if basic facilities such as adequate classrooms are lacking. -N supports the Ministry of Education to renovate and upgrade 47 schools. The first 13 rehabilitated schools in the Omusati and Oshana regions are already handed over to teachers and learners. Construction also commenced for 31 classrooms, science laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, school offices, toilet blocks and more than 50 houses for teachers in the Ohangwena Region. All facilities come with furniture, science kits and computer equipment. Francina Mutilifa from Rehoboth High School proudly presents her new textbook. 1

4 EDUCATION Before: After: Etayi Combined School (Omusati Region). Schools in the Omusati Region: Ekundu Combined School, Ekangolinene Combined School, Etayi Combined School, John Shekudya Combined School, Okasheshete Combined School, Oneeya Combined School and Oshikulufitu Combined School. Schools in the Oshana Region: Enguwantale Combined School, Hashiyana Combined School, Olukolo Junior Secondary School, Onamutai Combined School and Ondjora Combined School. -N provided laboratory science equipment to the value of N$ 500,000 to UNAM s Colleges of Education. Students at the UNAM campus in Windhoek s Khomasdal practising on their newly equipped science laboratory. 470 Laptops delivered - 1,200 more to come. 2,000 Desks delivered - 4,400 more to come. 2,400 Chairs delivered - 5,500 more to come. Schools receive laptops for their new computer laboratories. 2

5 EDUCATION -N in February 2011 granted N$ 14.4 million to the University of (UNAM) to establish a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) unit on its Windhoek campus. The unit offers regular skills training to teachers, educators and educational managers. The CPD unit is operational and regional outlets are currently established. Regional Study and Resource Centres / Libraries -N complements the National Training Authority (NTA) to improve vocational training through its National Training Fund. A first grant worth N$ 2 million was used to train 60 much needed tour-guides. Forty-seven of them received their certificates in March 2012 and most have already found a job in the tourism industry. The Education Project signed a second grant agreement with Wolwedans Desert Academy worth N$ 1.6 million. Forty applicants were awarded training scholarships in hospitality, such as housekeeping, cooking and office operation. Wherever waste water could pollute the ground water, -N ensures that eco-friendly toilets are deployed. So far, 43 Enviro-Loos have been installed. November 2011: Education Minister Abraham Iyambo lays the cornerstone of the Regional Study and Resource Centre in Ohangwena Region. 3

6 TOURISM Eco-tourism Development IN NATURE Conservancies Meeting with Wuparo Conservancy members in July N s Tourism Project provides conservancies with funding for joint ventures with the private sector to improve marketing, address human-wildlife conflict and enhance small tourism enterprises. To date seven agreements worth N$ 4.6 million have been signed. Wuparo Conservancy in the Caprivi Region received a grant of N$ 1 million to become shareholder in the Nkasa Lupala Lodge. -N s Conservancy Development Support Services (CDSS) empowers communities to actively participate in tourism enterprises with special emphasis on gender equality, job creation and sustainability. Gcao Kaece, former chairperson of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, shaking hands with the newly elected female chairperson Xoa//an /Ai!ae. 4

7 TOURISM Improving s tourism jewel: Etosha National Park -N bought and handed over road maintenance and game capture equipment worth N$ 21 million to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) in September Road maintenance equipment plays a crucial role in unlocking the tourism potential of Etosha as well as neighbouring conservancies and is also used to create firebreaks. Before: -N supports the Tourism Board (NTB) in its efforts to promote as a tourist destination through online marketing. NTB s website was upgraded to an interactive online platform, which will feature in four languages (English, Italian, French, German). The website was awarded Best Website at the Indaba Tourism Expo held in Durban, South Africa, one year ago. After: -N paves the way: New road maintenance equipment for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. A black rhino is transported to its new conservancy. 29 Conservancies funded - 2 more to come. 578 Game translocated - many more to come. 5

8 AGRICULTURE Better livestock for Better income -N successfully introduced community-based rangeland and livestock management. More than 200 farmers in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) received training in animal husbandry and rangeland management to avoid overgrazing. They were also equipped with seven mobile cattle crush pens with built-in electronic scales. Ear-tagging With the help of modern ear-tagging equipment procured by -N, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has implemented an efficient animal identification and traceability system. The ear-tags identify ownership of every animal and improve overall production management. So far, 1,275,000 tags were acquired and more than 820,000 cattle have been tagged. 820,000 Cattle tagged - 680,000 more to come. Before tagging. After tagging. 6

9 AGRICULTURE Communal Land To generate a deeper understanding of the Communal Land Reform Act, -N organised a series of training workshops for traditional leaders. Raising awareness in communities helps improve s overall communal land administration under the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement. The trainings covered commonage management, record management and dispute management with a focus on gender equality. Women are still largely disadvantaged when it comes to land rights in. -N is helping to change this phenomenon. Illustration of communal land management during training. Traditional authorities at a workshop on the Communal Land Act. Water Apart from rich pasture, successful community-based rangeland management requires the existence of water. Two boreholes in the Uukwaludhi grazing areas were drilled to supply this most essential resource for cattle farming. Water is life: Drilling at Uukwaludhi. 25 Villages mapped more to come. 350 Households participate in the Community-Based Rangeland and Livestock Management programme. 730 Traditional Leaders (incl. 220 women) trained - 1,300 more to come. Water is life: Drilling at Uukwaludhi. 300 Applicants received Land Rights Certificates - 8,700 more to come. 7

10 AGRICULTURE indigenous NATURAL PRODUCTS s indigenous natural products (INP) sector has benefitted from investments from the public as well as private sectors over the past years. Suitable products were identified and supply chains developed. -N has implemented projects in support of Marula, Devil s Claw, Ximenia and Kalahari Melon seed oil producers by investing more than N$ 50 million. Technical assistance and small grants are showing positive results. Devil s Claw is one of the most important commercialised indigenous natural products in and has been harvested and exported for over 50 years. About 4,300 INP producers were trained and several received harvesting as well as processing equipment. Marula harvesters in action. Marula harversters in action. 4,300 INP producers mobilised and trained. -N provides drying nets to Devil s Claw harversters. Writing exams after a successful workshop on trading Devil s Claw. 8

11 Finance Figure 1: Expenditure in US$ million Programme Budget 50 0 OVERALL EDUCATION 29.2 TOURISM AGRICULTURE MONITORING & EVALUATION ADMINISTRATION 16.2 Expenditure by 31 March 2012 PROCUREMENT Zimbabwe US$ 604,477 (1%) Canada US$ 1,253,000 (1%) drc US$ 131,420 (0%) france US$ 1,832,240 (1%) UK US$ 6,090,742 (4%) USA US$ 31,924,401 (21%) Germany US$ 21,096,708 (14%) Figure 2: Procurements awarded between September 2009 and March 2012 in US$. South Africa US$ 14,991,160 (10%) US$ 72,529,016 (48%) 9

12 Millennium Challenge Account Atlas House, Sam Nujoma Drive PO Box Windhoek Tel: /418/454 Fax: Web: