V‍olume 2 Issue 1 ~ May to July 2023

Dear Esteemed Stakeholder,

‍‍Welcome to our May to July 2023 Newsletter!

The Civil Society Information Centre Namibia (CIVIC +264) is a voluntary association with the mission to promote the sharing of information relevant to civil society organisations (CSOs), about CSOs and to showcase their work.

Highlights

CIVIC +264 Welcomes new Coordinator, Mrs Melanie Markus

On 1 May 2023,  CIVIC +264 welcomed its new coordinator, Mrs Melanie Markus, who took over from Ms Carola Engelbrecht. Ms Carola Engelbrecht now serves as a CIVIC +264 Board Member representing the Citizens for an Accountable and Transparent Society (CATS).

As a passionate leader and programme manager, Mrs Markus brings to CIVIC +264 over a decade of experience in leading, developing, and transforming organisations. 

‍Mrs Markus introducing CIVIC +264, its mandate at the CIVIC +264 Information Session in Windhoek on 31 May 

‍‍Information Sessions with CSOs & Political Office Bearers

Between May and July 2023, with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), CIVIC +264 hosted 3 information-sharing and networking sessions for CSOs and political office bearers:

• in Windhoek on 31 May,
• in Otjiwarongo on 20 June, and
• in Rundu on 25 July.

The sessions fostered collaboration, information-sharing, and networking among CSOs while introducing them to the services provided by CIVIC +264. The interactive nature of the sessions allowed for open discussions and Q&A sessions, enabling participants to share their insights, challenges, and ideas for enhancing civil society engagement. 

‍Information session in Rundu on 25 July 

In attendance: Kavango East Regional Council (Paulus Haimbili); Rundu Town Council (Cllr Reginald Ndara, Cllr Nicolaus Ndumba, Cllr Regina Nakare, Cllr Rosalia Nanghuti & Kandjima Berthold Fortune); CIVIC +264 – Civil Society Information Centre Namibia (Melanie Markus); Freedom March Movement (Modestus Kasoma Kupembona); Kasivi Pride Girls Club (Makanga Reinhilde); Kayec Trust (Anton Kamerika & Loide Kasita); Likunga OVC Project (Selma Haita & Eva Muyenga) Youth 2 Youth Namibia (Joakim Sacky & Satumba Ruben); NYSDP - National Youth Sports Development Platform (Magdalena Haingure); The Children’s Movement (Sitanbara Rafani); AfriYAN (Hakasembe Leander & Elias Kanabinda); Nimrod M. OVC Project (Semet N Cecilia); Joseph Mbambunga Conservancy (Kandjware Alfons); Wapa-Nawa Recycling Center (Ladislaus Shikerete); Namibia Red Cross Society (Mathews Muwango & Karlito Edward); Rundu Fashion Show (Simbaranda Pordesuis); Namibia Rural Women’s Assembly (Fugre Josephine); The Children's Movement (Pedro Kapirika); Kavango East Youth Forum (Bonifatius Kavinga); NYC Kavango East Youth Forum (Erwina Mushinga Karupu); and Youth Activist Stefanus Mars Kudumo.

‍Information session in Otjiwarongo on 20 June

In attendance: TCE - Total Control of the Epidemic programme (Magdalena Ndjuao); Otjwarongo Arts Centre (Lidia Katofa); Young Africa Namibia (Linea Jason); KAYEC Trust (Tjeripo Ndukireepo, Valencia Mureti & Petronella Nauises); WAD - Women's Action for Development (Theresia Kukenge); ELCIN (Pastor Josef Shitaleni); Otjiwarongo Multipurpose Help Centre (Monica Tjehiua); ABT Associates Namibia (Harold Kandjii); Otjwarongo Municipality (John Hinda & Adelheid Shikongo); and the Otjozondjupa Regional Council (Agata Mweti & William Virore)

‍Information session in Windhoek on 31 May

In attendance: Comrades Association (Tjipuro Tjipuro & Paulina Usiku); CCN - Council of Churches in Namibia (Anthony Ngabwe; ESJT - Economic and Social Justice Trust (Erika Abrahams); IRNDC - Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (Josephine Kamelo); LaRRI - Labour Resource and Research Institute Namibia (Sophia Isala); NID - Namibia Institute for Democracy (Naita Hishoono, Saara Amakali, Juita Fransika & Jacinta Kasume); NNF - Namibia Nature Foundation (Sunnypo Imalwa); Namibian Organic Association (Eckhart Förtsch); Youth4CAN - National Youth Climate Action Network (Toini Amutenya); NAFSAN - Nutrition and Food Alliance of Namibia (Ben Schernick & Maria Kandjungu); Positive Vibes Trust (Alexia Naris); REAL DC - Radical Emancipation and Leadership Club (Lloyd Hernandez Bock); Sister Namibia (Ethne Mudge); and the Women's Leadership Centre (Nadia April).

‍Pictures

C‍IVIC +264 Chairperson & Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Namibia Executive Director, Graham Hopwood, presenting at the preparatory meeting for CSOs on 31 July ahead of the civil society consultative meeting with the Minister of Finance regarding priorities for the 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Review

The Mid-Year Budget Review is likely to be tabled in the National Assembly in October. As part of the Mid- Year Review, the Minister is expected to provide an update on the progress of the 2023/24 budget. He is also expected to propose reallocations in budgeted expenditure in view of changing priorities and the latest economic outlook.

The consultative meeting will take place on 14 August from 14h30 to 16h30. The venue is the Protea Fuerstenhof Hotel, Dr. Frans Indongo Street, Windhoek.

Group picture of the participants at the Meeting of Membership-Based Umbrella Organisations for the Establishment of a Non-State Actors Network of Namibia / Civil Society Actors Network

The meeting of membership-based umbrella organisations was held on 26 and 27 June 2023 at the Arrebusch Travel Lodge, Windhoek. The objective of the meeting was to explore the establishment of a Non-State Actors Network of Namibia (N-SANN) / Civil Society Actors Network, fostering collaboration among CSOs and promoting their role as credible partners for the government and Parliament.

The event was organised by CIVIC +264 Board Member Ms Carola Engelbrecht, who was an N-SANN Working Committee member representing CIVIC +264 and was supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), the Namibia Chamber of Environment (NCE) and the Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia (EPDN) Programme. The meeting brought together 51 participants on day one and 48 participants on day two, representing various CSOs/NGOs.

O‍ur Aim

‍The aim of CIVIC +264 is to create a database of active CSOs in Namibia and a website and a social media presence for information sharing amongst those organisations - which is also useful to other stakeholders, e.g. Government entities, Local Authorities, Regional Councils and Development Partners.

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Upcoming Events

Be on the lookout for the following CIVIC +264 events

1. Mid-Year Budget Review: Minister of Finance - Consultative Meeting With Civil Society on 14 August 2023

2. Launch of the Guide to Setting Up CSOs in Namibia

Other events, news and opportunities

1. 'I support equal rights for ALL' - INVITATION to take a stand in CSOs' campaign
   

2. Development Workshop (DW) Namibia, Consultancy for the External Evaluation of the project “Improving sanitation in Namibia’s informal settlements and containing the spread of Hepatitis E” 

‍The work of CIVIC +264 is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF)