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PUBLIC SEMINAR: CHINESE GOVERNANCE REFORMS: LESSONS FOR NAMIBIA

Recently, China has been at the forefront of global economic and social transformation. The Chinese government has implemented various reforms to stimulate economic growth, enhance social welfare, and foster innovation across various sectors. Given the substantial impact of these reforms on both domestic and international fronts, leaders must stay informed about these developments and their potential implications. As a training institute, NIPAM provides platforms for knowledge exchange and dialogue. Hence, On Monday, 19 June 2023, NIPAM will host a Chinese Governance Reforms seminar at NIPAM Campus, Paul Nash Street, @ 09h00. Click on the link below to RSVP.https://forms.gle/gQaq9DUG3pDz4eaB9

NIPAM’S CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS PUBLIC SEMINAR

According to recent online reports, there has been a sharp increase in the number of cyber-attacks; hence there is a need to raise cyber security awareness. Cybersecurity is a strategy used by IT and security professionals to prevent and mitigate computer user risks against cyber-attacks and unauthorized access. As a training institute, NIPAM is dedicated to providing training that is relevant and current in order to ensure the transformation of the Namibian Public Sector as per mandate. Hence, On Monday, 15 May 2023, NIPAM will host a free Cyber Security Awareness Public Seminar at NIPAM Campus, Paul Nash Street, @ 08h30. Click on the link below or scan the QR code to RSVP. https://forms.gle/vxQWiAHuy2Gmjbjg7

NIPAM & OPM TO CRAFT A PUBLIC SECTOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT POLICY

The Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) recently held an inception meeting to discuss the Public Sector Knowledge Management Policy development. The need for crafting such a policy stems from the increased loss of knowledge currently being experienced in the Public Sector as well as insufficient knowledge creation and application. To address these problems, the OPM approached NIPAM to embark on the development of the policy. NIPAM will soon conduct stakeholder consultations in different parts of the country to develop the procedure, the purpose of which is to improve service delivery and drive performance and innovation in the Public Sector. The consultancy entails the development of a Knowledge Management Policy for the Public Sector and an Implementation Framework. The work will be completed by February 2023.

NIPAM ONGWEDIVA TRADE FAIR 2022

NIPAM took part in the recently concluded Ongwediva Trade Fair (OATF) which started on the 26 August 2022 and ended on 01 September 2022. At this year’s event, NIPAM showcased its key offerings to its clientele and the public. NIPAM’s offerings comprised of various capacity-building interventions which were strategically designed to meet the needs of the public sector, such as the recently launched three accreditation programmes. Other short capacitybuilding interventions that were showcased included Performance Management Systems, Strategic Management, Business Process Re-engineering, and Project Management. Furthermore, NIPAM also showcased how it assisted various Offices/Ministries/ Agencies (OMAs), Public Enterprises, Regional Council and Local Authorities with their Strategic Planning and Organisational Development processes.

NIPAM PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL PUBLIC ENTERPRISES SPORTS MEET

NIPAM participated in the recently concluded Public Enterprises sports meet that took place in Oranjemund and Rosh Pinah. NIPAM’s sports contingent consisted of netball, soccer, tug of war, volleyball, and track teams, each of whom made it to the quarterfinals. NIPAM’s performance was lauded by the other teams. The organisation plans on continuing its upward trajectory in all areas as it continues to strive toward excellence on and off the sports field.

NIPAM holds Staff Prayer session

NIPAM staff members recently gathered in order to have an institutional prayer session. This prayer session came from the need to strengthen staff morale during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that is ravaging the country. NIPAM as an institution prides itself on the wellbeing of all its staff members which is why initiatives like the prayer session and many others are organized to promote the mental health of all staff members. The need for intervention was made more pertinent as many of the NIPAM staff like the majority of Namibians have personally felt the effects of Covid-19 in their personal lives. NIPAM Executive Director Ms Maria Ndatiwelao Nangolo had a few choice words to say to the staff at the prayer session by encouraging them to keep working hard as they have been and informed staff to keep prayer in their toolkit going forward into the new normal. The prayer session was conducted outside in the open parking area with social distancing maintained to maintain safety. Staff members expressed great appreciation for the initiative and thanked management for organizing it. NIPAM staff initiatives in addition to prayer sessions include a social club that collects money internally in order to fund financial contributions to staff members in the form of institutional donations in case of personal loss of loved one’s or care packages to help staff members through difficult times.

Presidential Advisors consult Public Enterprises CEOs on Harambee Prosperity Plan II

With the aim to keep Chief Executive Officers of Public Enterprises abreast with Government’s latest developmental plans, Presidential Advisors presented the Harambee Prosperity Plan II (HPPII 2021-2025) to members of the Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers’ Forum in Windhoek recently.As presented, the HPPII consists of mainly five key pillars with each pillar having specific goals that the Public Enterprises in collaboration with the private sector should seek to achieve. These pillars are namely: 1) Effective Governance, 2) Economic Advancement, 3) Social Progression, 4) Infrastructure Development and 5) International Relations. These were presented by Presidential Press Secretary Dr Alfredo Hengari, Presidential Advisor on Constitutional Affairs and Private Sector Interface Ms Inge Zaamwani, Youth Matters and Enterprise Development Advisor Ms Daisry Mathias and Economic Advisor Mr James Mnyupe.Speaking on the Economic Advancement pillar, Ms Daisry Mathias mentioned that there is emerging interest in Namibia’s potential to become a green hydrogen producer and this can have a trickling down effect on the agricultural sector in particular with the creation of ammonia-based fertilizers and subsequent job creation. She further elaborated on the Social Progression pillar of HPPII stating that increased land delivery and housing for Namibians are a key focus point for the nation’s leadership, as this will go a long way in addressing social issues facing many Namibians.At the same occasion, Press Secretary Dr Alfredo Hengari also cited the importance of International Relations and how it relates to the overall development of the nation, and the role it plays in HPPII. He stated that Namibia generally has a smaller footprint internationally, compared to South Africa with a far greater footprint continentally. He attributed this to the difference in the scale of the economies between the two countries. In addition, Dr Hengari also emphasized that Namibia should learn from other countries and cited the rise of Singapore as an example that should be emulated. He added that plans are underway to address the classification of Namibia as a middle-income country, which he says has been a hindrance for Namibia in getting aid and loans as the current classification does not avail to the country.In conclusion, public enterprises were advised to integrate HPPII into their strategies going forward in order ensure the overall success of Government’s agenda towards economic recovery and inclusive growth for the country over the next five years.MARIA N. NANGOLOSPOKESPERSON

SIGNING OF PROJECT FINANCE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN NIPAM AND KEETMANSHOOP MUNICIPALITY

NIPAM and the Keetmanshoop Municipality have signed a partnership agreement to service 390 residential plots in two of the Keetmanshoop townships, namely Westdene and Krönlein. Keetmanshoop Municipality through expert facilitation by NIPAM are looking at sourcing funding estimated at N$ 60 million from various strategic financial sources to finance the project. In terms of the partnership, Keetmanshoop Municipality has appointed NIPAM as Project Managers to amongst others to conduct housing market studies, prepare funding proposals and obtain relevant regulatory approvals to ensure the successful implementation of the project. NIPAM introduced a tailor-made training programme on ‘Project Finance for Regional and Local Authorities’. The programme aims to sensitise the regional councils and local authorities on project finance as a financing alternative mechanism for delivering land servicing and afford­able housing. The local authorities can do this by borrowing money from the financial institutions, on a stan­dalone basis with the financiers relying on future cash flows as the primary source of repayment (cash flows from the sales of serviced land) rather than making use of the Local Authority balance sheet. According to NIPAM’s Exective Director Ms Maria N. Nangolo, the Keetmanshoop Municipality requested NIPAM for assistance in the development of the feasibility and concept to accelerate servicing of land through project finance. “This partnership represents a starting point of this initiative and journey which is guided by national interest and respective mandates of the joint institutions. Through this journey, we intent to create and document lessons to be learnt, create case studies which will serve as a blueprint for the future and also as a key contribution to the body of knolwdge in the discipline of public administration”. Project finance is aimed at assisting public entities (including but not limited to regional and local authorities) with professional and expert support required to ensure due diligence in project establishment as well as in project monitoring and evaluation. The focus is specifically on revenue-generating projects. This partnership is a major milestone, a trendsetter and a pilot project that will set a footprint for the rest of the municipalities and local authorities to follow.

NIPAM’s KEY GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR 2021

T – Team Work A – Agility P – Positive Mindset These practices are instrumental in creating shared beliefs, shaping an attractive, high performing culture that is built on trust, teamwork and agility which in turn is an enabler in making NIPAM a great place to work. The guiding principles pointed out are Teamwork, Agility and Positive mindset abbreviated as TAP. We aim to launch the TAP Campaign to reinforce our purpose whilst putting our people at the heart of our business. We understand that our employees are the most valuable asset thus I would like us to embed these principles to ensure alignment and unity. The objective of TAP is to drive a clear set of ground rules and guiding principles for decision-making, actions and a sense of community in the year 2021. TAP will ensure our people find alignment between their personal values and NIPAMs values creating a unified and motivated workforce. I would like to challenge each staff member to become role-models of these behaviours and set goals/steps/actions that, you, yourself want to take in order to bring these behaviours across more in the way that you operate in your work and team. TAP behavioural descriptors: Additionally, this behaviours and attitudes will promote connections, collaboration, new ways of working and doing things differently to promote the value of working together, agility and positive attitudes. In doing so we will need to embed these values into our culture and performance management system.Drivers to achieve the desired behaviours Action Learning. Successful transformations are driven by leadership, who set the tone for new ways of working and behaving. Team Building Session. Drive and implement team building initiatives that promote collaboration, teamwork, and interaction. Promote virtual team building campaigns. Marketing of NIPAM by all staff members. Establish mechanism to promote NIPAM, this includes incentives for client referrals, social media campaigns and set targets for each employee to bring in at least 1 potential and business Leadership resilience. Set a clear direction and instruction, providing support when it is hard/challenging, affirm belief in staff members. Recognition. Recognise employees who put in the extra in the ordinary, employees who go beyond their normal duties to live our values and bring them to life. A common understanding of NIPAM’s mandate. Clearly articulated the mandate, display the mandate on all notice boards within NIPAM. Launch the I am NIPAM campaign. Proactive in our approach/ setting the agenda. Set the agenda, entrepreneurial mindset, identifying and acting fast on opportunities.

LAUNCH OF THE MONITORING AND EVALUATION COURSE

With the European Union’s N$ 108 million financial and technical assistance towards developing this course, NIPAM together with the National Planning Commission (NPC) launched the monitoring and evaluation short course on 13 November 2020. NIPAM Vice-Chairperson, Dr. Nashilongo Shivute said, as an institution mandated to transform the public sector, NIPAM is determined to build a public sector human capital that is competent and skilled in their mandate of ensuring Namibia becomes an industrialised nation by 2030. The development of the course was prompted by the identified need to have a practical course talking to the realities in the professional conduct of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) augmented by a balanced theoretical framework to result in a course addressing the needs of our M&E Practitioners. This course is an outcome of the collaboration and spirit of working together between NIPAM, NPC, and the European Union. NPC Executive Director, Ms. Welhencia Uiras, said the course is expected to generate awareness, knowledge, and understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) theories, practices and instruments and to enhance the current M&E practices across the country and to establish the standardisation of M&E terminologies, approaches, systems and reporting requirements as per integrated National performance Framework. “Our officials will also be equipped with skills on how to apply M&E tools to their specific workplace interventions. It is, therefore, my hope and belief that this course will serve as a catalyst for producing experts in the field of monitoring and evaluation which is crucial for the implementation of our development programs culminating into the realisation of our goals”. According to NPC the country is known for producing wonderful plans as well as contributing greatly to the formulation of Regional and Global plans including long-term Plan Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity Plan, and Regional as well as Global Development Agendas such as the Africa Agenda 63 as well as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, European Union Delegation Head of Cooperation, Achim Schaffert said with the financial support of about N$ 108 million into the programme for strengthening M&E capacities, all relevant stakeholders will be able to better assess the progress towards the achievement of the expected results. The training will also allow policymakers to take decisions based on evidence, to better understand which processes work best and to identify SMART objectives.