Capacity building of the regional councils in Namibia
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Date
2002
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
The study assesses the present capacity of the Regional Councils and investigates whether the available capacity building efforts in Namibia meet the needs of the Regional Councils. Since the needs ofthe Regional Councils are numerous, the study focuses on the problems of capacity building in terms of human resources development, finance and infrastructures. The Regional Councils are newly established government entities under the decentralisation process with the aim to extend the government and democracy closer to the people. This study also looks at how far the Regional Councils have benefited from the available capacity
building efforts since 1992. A comparative approach is used in the study. Three Regional Councils namely Khomas, Oshana and Otjozondjupa were selected, which allows more room for a comparative framework. The fact that this study chose the three regions is that they give more information depending on their different structures, size, population and have different perspective methods of capacity building. They also give a good picture of finding out how the capacity building efforts met the needs of the different Regional Councils in Nrumbia. Since the MRLGH is one of the capacity building institutions to assist the Regional Councils, this study indicates how the national cake is distributed among the Councils. It also looks at how the other additional entities such as NGOs have rendered services to the Councils. Since Namibia has adopted decentralization policies, it has reasonably succeeded in
mobilizing every available capacity building effort in the country to give a helping hand in order to make decentralization programme a success. This study also looks at how best the Regional Councils under decentralization policy have taken the issue of gender in consideration. It is noted all along that history has seemingly been blind on gender and this is the issue of concern in the Namibian decentralization programme to make sure that the needs of gender are met. Documentary search and interviews were used to collect data in this study. Resulting from good collaborations with the interviewees, empirical evidences are given that the Regional Councils have benefited and is still benefiting from the capacity building efforts available in Namibia in one way or the other. This study further notes that more efforts are busy registering themselves to give a push hand towards the decentralization policy. It is also indicated clearly by the respondents that the Regional Councils are experiencing lack of adequate capacity, especially in terms of financial resources. The Regional Councils are still
depending on the Central Government. The Regional governors, officers, consultants and NGOs in their responses indicated with confidence that change is expected and things will be run in good manner as soon as the new introduced administrative structure is implemented. It is very much encouraging that the Namibian people are wholeheartedly waiting for a full implementation of the decentralization programme in the regions and this indicates a good picture towards enhancement of democracy. A few policy recommendations are made at the end of the study, indicating the road ahead and the ways to improve on our Regional Councils and how to go about the decentralisation. This study, therefore, notes that only through hard work and togetherness that Namibia can be listed as one of the best countries in Africa and in the world at large, if her democracy is respected and maintained.
Description
A research paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration
Keywords
Capacity building, Regional councils