Namibia Workshop Presentations

Presenter: 
Fidelis Nyambe Mwazi

Capacity building remains one of the most challenging functions of global development and is also linekd to training.  But training is in most cases only benefiting individuals without strengthening the capacities of institutions and of countries.  Therefore, unless capacity building is targeted at both individuals and institutions, it’s benefits may be uneven and unreliable.  At present there is no biofuels capacity building in Namibia, although Namibia has two big institutions of higher learning, namely the University of Namibia (UNAM) and Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN). Therefore the opportunity for biofuels capacity building does exist within the structures of the two institutions.   Fields of study in natural resources are already well established in both these institutions’ structures at undergraduate, post-graduate, and post doctoral level. Hence capacity building can be integrated into the curriculum's of both for UNAM and PoN.  Possible stakeholders identified include:

• University of Namibia (UNAM)
• Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN)
• Ministry of Mines and Energy
• Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry
• Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
• Ministry of Environment & Tourism
• Ministry of Education
• VTCs, SMEs, NGOs

The Institutional Objectives of Biofuels Capacity Building may include:

• Build and strengthen institutional capacity at all levels
• Facilitate opportunities for effective collaboration with role players/stakeholders
• Integrate biofuels training across disciplines and institutional setups
• Enhance access to both biofuels and biofuels information

The capacity building framework as a four-step process designed to promote and shape biofuels capacity building activities at institutional level, namely:

• Step 1:  Research
• Step 2:  Technology Development
• Step 3:  Training
• Step 4:  Dissemination

The institutional tasks through the framework may focus on: 

• Providing technical expertise, training and conduct biofuels research
• Providing  assistance in formulating policies, (national) strategies in order to ensure the sustainable development of the biofuel production
• Developing tools to quantify the likely biofuels resource base on a region-by-region and outline the opportunities
• Providing an enabling environment and build capacities for establishing biofuels programmes
• Facilitating efficient interactions and participation among stakeholders, including the private sector

The success of biofuels capacity building, direct or indirect will contribute to agricultural productivity and food security in Namibia.  Both subsistence and commercial farmers will have access to relevant information, cheaper or affordable biofuels and in return increased crop production and income.  Another benefit for capacity building is the opportunities for Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs) as small-scale suppliers of biofuels.

Capacity building should focus on building up institutional capacities first and foremost as recommended by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) (1999).  That can be achieved through the integration of biofuels capacity building into existing programmes of UNAM & PoN.  Therefore the benefits of biofuels capacity building can only be realised if UNAM & PoN becomes the driving force in striving to overcome the challenges of technological development through research and training and later dissemination of relevant information to the stakeholders.