Newsletter

12 Feb

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.

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12 Feb

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.

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30 Nov

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.

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13 Nov

NIPAM’s Learning Resource Centre

NIPAM’s Learning Resource Centre (LRC) provides additional resource materials to support NIPAM’s operational research, capacity building, and consultancy programmes. As expounded by NIPAM’s Manager for Library Services, Ms. Sylvia Katjepunda, NIPAM’s library services are an extension of the programmes that are provided to clients especially those from the public sector – OMA’s Regional Councils, Local Authorities, Public Enterprises without excluding the private sector. NIPAM’s LRC was established to support the mandate of NIPAM by providing public sector employees with additional resource materials when attending training programmes, developing their strategic plans, and when conducting research programmes. An E-library policy was developed to pave way for online services which are in the process of being established. This year the LRC introduced knowledge management initiative as a strategy to optimise the use of various information and knowledge resources within NIPAM. The Library officials are preparing themselves to participate in the upcoming Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) scheduled for early 2021. SCECSAL is a regional forum for library and information associations in Africa. Membership to SCECSAL is open to national library and information associations from the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. PROFILE Ms. Sylvia Katjepunda Manager: Library Services Sylvia .K. Katjepunda is an experienced professional Librarian with more than ten years of experience in information management drawn from both academic and industry environment Katjepunda is dedicated to serving the Namibian community by providing assistance in information retrieval and research techniques. She is also one of the active members of the Namibia Information Workers Association who has written and presented several articles and papers on Libraries and information management in Namibia. She obtained a Master of Management at Southern Business School. In addition to that, she holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Development from University of Stellenbosch, Bachelor of Information Science (Hons) from University of Pretoria, and a Bachelor of Art (Library Studies) University of Namibia. As part of professional development, she has pursued and obtained a Diploma in Neuro–Linguistic Programming and Life Coaching with School of life (South Africa). Her research interests are women empowerment, leadership development, knowledge management, information management, ICT for development, and human resources development.

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13 Nov

NIPAM AND MPE DELIVERS PUBLIC ENTERPRISES INDUCTION TRAINING

The Namibia Institute of Public Administrations and Management (NIPAM) and the Ministry of Public Enterprises (MPE) conducted a Board Induction Training Programme for newly appointed Public Enterprises - Board of Directors on 29 – 30 October 2020. Boards are critical institutions in the governance structure of Public Enterprises (PE) and their performance and success depend to a greater extent on the quality of the Board, hence as a training institute, NIPAM is dedicated to ensuring that our training and capacity building philosophy and product offering is quality assured and meets industry practice, moreover that it is current, pragmatic and relevant. NIPAM Executive Director, Ms Maria N. Nangolo said while board members already possess sufficient knowledge, experience and expertise at the time of appointment, Ms Nangolo stressed upon the philosophy of continuous learning throughout one’s life cycle. “Our experiences of the world including interactions with others aids learning, and this platform intends to add to the body of knowledge that already exists and to especially strengthen, the softer issues which is as important as the legislation and by laws, such as strategic leadership, boardroom etiquette and relationship management”. Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Ministry of Public Enterprises, Ms Annascy Mwanyangapo said, with this induction training the Ministry wants to ensure that once appointed, the Board members are afforded an opportunity to learn and clearly understand what their roles and duties are, individually and collectively; what the expectations of the Public Enterprises Shareholders and the general public are; what support instruments are at their disposal in the execution of their duties; and that they are to be held accountable for the success or failure of the enterprises they are appointed to govern. Seven boards participated in the induction training, namely Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco), Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida), National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), New Era Publications Corporation, Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower).

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13 Nov

World Standards Day

The 14 October 2020 was World Standards Day and according to an official joint statement by the ISO, the International Telecommunication Union (ICT) and the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) the theme was chosen to bring the world to attention on the impact that Human activity is having on the planet in terms of Green-House gas emissions as well as damage caused by Human activity in Nature. To NIPAM, as a Government of Namibia’s appointed agency to deliver capacity development to the Namibian public sector, we cannot deliver to the satisfaction of entire public service capacity needs, without guidance and adherence to a set of guidelines or standards that are accepted worldwide. The standards will help NIPAM to hold its workforce and teams responsible and accountable. The practice of aligning capacity development to standards also helps ensure that a higher level of skills investment is attained. Standards will also essentially help and guide NIPAM in the planning, implementation, and assessment of the entire strategy and service delivery. The use of standards to streamline our capacity development interventions will ensure that NIPAM’s practices deliberately focus on agreed upon targets. Teachers follow standards-based instruction to ensure that their students meet the demands targeted.

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13 Nov

NIPAM HOST MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR

NIPAM held a Mental Health Seminar on 22 October 2020 to raise awareness on Mental Health Issues and its effects amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The seminar was hosted to help in establishing an advocacy platform for various institutions, scholars and individuals to share their views and commentary on many topics emerging from the discourse current and past trending in Namibia, regionally and the globe. According to NIPAM’s Executive Director, Ms Maria N. Nangolo, the objective is not only educating the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to. “Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and job stress are common, affecting individuals, their families and co-workers, and the broader community. In addition, they have a direct impact on workplaces through increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased costs. You will also realise that very few Namibians seek treatment for their mental disorders. Therefore, it is part of our goal to promote the fact that Mental illness can be treated even at your nearest clinic, besides hospital or specialised healthcare providers”. Mental Health Activist and Miss Namibia 2018, Selma Kamanya asserted that it is important to sensitise the Namibian community that mental health illness is a reality and an extremely dangerous enemy to our social well-being. “We want to let our people know the importance of recognising the people living with mental health challenges so that they feel and know that they are not alone”.Ms. Kamanya further added that it will be in the best interest of our Namibian community if all our institutions and organisations at large were committed to support those fellow workers and individuals who are struggling with mental health illness. An important part of ensuring wellbeing is the assurance that all Namibians, regardless of their culture, are aware of and are able to access the help and services they need especially supported by institutions who have employed them. The seminar which was successfully attended by close to 40 people from the public and private sectors unpacked the common and uncommon causes of mental health problems and mental health as a result of complex interplay between biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors.

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12 Oct

NIPAM is hosting a Mental Health Seminar on the 22nd of October 2020

NIPAM is hosting a Mental Health Seminar on the 22nd of October 2020.The seminar will be held at NIPAM campus in Windhoek, Paul Nash street, Olympia. The seminar is open for anyone to attend and is aimed at raising awareness on mental health and the effects during Covid-19. Other topics to be discussed by experienced speakers are, Wellness programmes and Mental health of employees and how they can cope in these current times of Covid-19. Follow this link to rsvp to this event https://nipammentalhealthseminar.app.rsvpify.com

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04 Feb

NIPAM KICKSTARTS ITS YEAR 2020 WITH AN INDUCTION AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING REVIEW WORKSHOP FOR BOARD MEMBERS

The Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management has embarked on the orientation and training of its Board of Directors and operational planning review workshop from the 30th to the 31st of January 2020. These two events have been held during the most significant time as the institute has changed most of its board members. Chairperson of NIPAM’s Governing Council, Dr George Simataa said the workshop is meant to review NIPAM’s Strategic plan in order to understand where we have previously gone wrong in the implementation, as well as finding smart alternative ways of achieving our mandate during the economic hardship the country is facing. While the business plan 2020/21 reflects on the previous financial year key performances and lessons learnt, it is also an outcome of in-depth analysis, research and discovery of key areas of focus during the Financial Year 2020/21. Our strategic priorities NIPAM has identified four key priority areas to be attended to during thE financial year 2020/21; People, Culture and Performance, Financial Sustainability, Policies, Business Processes & Systems Architecture and Relevance Revenue generation to ensure financial stability will become our top priority for the financial year 2020/21. NIPAM needs to self-reliantly generate more revenues as the government grants are constantly diminishing. This will be complemented by sound financial and management controls that guarantee financial sustainability. NIPAM will work towards achieving a fully qualified, competent and motivated human talent. To achieve this, a robust investment of effort will be redirected to, NIPAM’s corporate culture building, organisational performance as well as good governance. Moreover, NIPAM must continue to strive to remain relevant to the needs of the market and its customers which is a vehicle to attain competitive advantage. We are strategically positioning NIPAM as a think-tank and expert of choice in the public service while ensuring that our training programmes are a perfect fit for the needs of our customer.

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14 Oct

PUBLIC SECTOR INTERNAL AUDITORS CONFERENCE 2019 CONCLUDES WITH LAUNCH OF PUBLIC SECTOR INTERNAL AUDITORS FORUM

Dates: September 30-September-2 October 2019; Venue: NIPAM1.BRIEFThe first ever Public Sector Internal Auditors Conference was held in Windhoek from the 30th of September to the 2nd of October, spearheaded by NIPAM to respond to the growing needs of accountability within the public sector.In the Namibian year of Accountability, which aligns with the public service charter, the Internal Audit function is at the forefront. This function (Internal Audit) is strategic in nature in that its functionaries are expected to adhere to professional code of ethics and therefore lead and exercise sound judgement by exercising internal controls and pointing out organizational risks without fear or favour to management and the leadership of Ministries Agencies and Its offices for findings to be addressed within scope and time.Efficient public service delivery remains a challenge in Namibia, hence (NIPAM) through the establishment of the Public Sector Internal Auditors Forum organised this Conference bent on strengthening the foundation of the Namibian house in which all its residents have a sense of shared identity driven by the public sector values.Currently out of 71, local authorities, village and regional councils only four have received unqualified (clean) audit opinions from the Auditor General, while the rest struggle with qualified audit opinions, adverse opinion and disclaimer of opinion. According to Ms Maria Nangolo, NIPAM Executive Director, “NIPAM however holds the view that if the internal audit function is operationalized and capacitated within the set standards, the assumption is that there will be no qualified opinions. Thus, this conference provided internal auditors with guidance and the call to capacitate and empower the public sector internal auditors to execute their duties guided by the professional code of ethics, furthermore the Auditor General’s office which acts as the external auditors, their findings should receive the seriousness its deserves from the leadership of the Namibian house. We need to pull in unison and ought to hold each other accountable and sound a declarant loud and clear; that no more qualified audit opinions 2021/2022,” she said.2.Establishing of a Public Sector Internal Auditors Forum: The Conference closed off with the election of a first ever Public Sector Forum of Internal Auditors Executive Committee which will serve for a two year term.The current Public Sector Interim Auditors Forum has been chaired by NIPAM Executive Director Ms Maria Nangolo, the Khomas Chief Regional Officer Mr. Clement Mafwila, representatives from the Public Accountants’ and Auditors Board (PAAB), representative from the Ministry of Finance, the Institute of Internal Auditors Namibia (IIA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN).The new committee comprises of:i.Kavii Tjivau: Kharas Regional Councilii.Sebastian Munyaza: Zambezi Regional Counciliii.George Kake: Otjozondjupa Regional Counciliv.Kaino Kangoya: Omusati Regional Councilv.Endeline Iyambo: City of Windhoek a)The objectives of the Public Sector Forum for Internal Auditors will include:To provide best practices in internal audit within the regional and local authorities councils.To share knowledge and information regarding the internal audit’s role, responsibility benefits of internal audit and different audit functions.Providing a forum to discuss best practices in areas including quality control, auditing, independence, and training and continuing professional development;3.NIPAM’s Role In Conference DeliverablesAccording to Ms Nangolo, a key component of the conference deliverables is for Namibia to have 60% unqualified audits by the 2021/2022 financial year from the current 8%. This will be realised through financial and leadership commitment from the different stakeholders at all levels.NIPAM has committed to cooperating with the Auditor General’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in spearheading capacity building initiatives within the Finance Departments of the Public Sector, provided there is a financial and leadership buy-in by the local authorities and regional councils themselves.Targeted interventions on capacity building will be done among others, through;Refresher courses of the internal audit and finance divisionsCoaching and mentorship of staff within finance departmentsSeminars for exchange and learningExchange visits to best performing regional councils and local authorities4.Attached are the speeches and well informed presentations of:Hon Dr. Peya Mushelenga, Minister of Urban and Rural Development (MURD)Mr Goms Menette, Deputy Auditor General, Namibia

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