Archive
Creating an Independent Namibia Support Unit
Sunday, 12 July 2009 10:00

For many years, WIMSA has been carrying out its regional advocacy work alongside its support work for grassroots development in Namibia. This was important because Namibia did not have a national organisation leading San development activities.

As both organisations have grown however, it became clear that it would be better to constitute WIMSA’s Namibia Support Unit as an independent organisation. This would allow both organisations to focus their attentions more effectively.

The overall organisational goal over the next three years is therefore to build two solid and viable organisations with clear visions, mandates and operational structures that effectively serve San development:

  • WIMSA will, in line with its mission, advocate for San rights in the region.
  • The Namibia Support Unit will undergo a thorough institutional development process to become an effective San support organisation for Namibia.

The table below outlines the differences between the two new organisations.


WIMSA Regional

Namibia Support Unit

Type of organisation

Umbrella/network organisation for advocacy

Support organisation for San organisations/CBOs

Area of operation

Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Angola; secretariat in Windhoek

Namibia

Registration

Registered in Namibia as a welfare organisation

Not yet registered (still operating under WIMSA)

Target group/Beneficiaries

San in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Angola

San in Namibia

Main Strategies

San representation;

advocacy

Capacity building;

implementation support to CBOs

Membership

National San councils

Not a membership organisation

Main partners

San support organisations: NSU, KFO, SASI etc.;

governments of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa – national level;

United Nations (at international level) and UN agencies (at national levels)

NGOs involved in San development;

Namibian San Council;

Government of Namibia (regional councils, Ministries: Land and Resettlement; Environment and Tourism; Education; Gender Equality and Child Welfare, at regional and national levels); WIMSA

Programmatic focus

Human rights;

education; heritage/IPR

Education and youth,

CBNMR, tourism, land, income generation

Governance structure

San-only Board composed of San council members from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Angola; Technical Advisory Committee of professionals advises the Board

To be established following consultations in Namibia; likely to be comprised of appointed San and non-San professionals

Constitution

Draft constitution in place – requires minor amendments

To be drafted