MCA. Namibia BULLETIN. December 2010 / Edition No. 4

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1 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010 / Edition No. 4

2 Contents Millennium Challenge Account NAMIBIA Reducing Poverty through Economic Growth Table of Contents A Word of Gratitude from the MCA Namibia Team 3 MCA Namibia Schools on the Move 4 Weighing Cattle in the Northern Communal Areas 7 MCA Namibia Provides Training on Revised Devil s Claw Policy 9 More Science Experiments for Trainee Teachers 10 Roll Out of the Verification Process of Land Parcels in the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia 11 Brand New Window to Tourism in New NTB Website 13 MCA Namibia s Communal Land Support Activity Mobilized 14 From Dreams to Reality: MCA Namibia Funds Training for 60 Tour Guide Students at NATH 15 Highlights of 2010 Interventions 16 MCA Namibia Bulletin Millennium Challenge Account Namibia Atlas House, Sam Nujoma Drive P. O. Box Windhoek Telephone: /418 Layout & Design: Parrot Communications Fax: Printers: Printech Website: info@mcanamibia.org This supplement has been produced by Editor: Rosa Hamukuaja-Thobias Millennium Challenge Account Namibia publicoutreach@mcanamibia.org 2010 Reserved 2 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010

3 MCA Namibia A Word of Gratitude from the MCA Namibia Team The MCA Namibia Team is delighted to present to you this last edition of our Quarterly Bulletin for Several milestones, as contained in this Bulletin, were achieved during this quarter. All our efforts are targeted at reducing poverty through economic growth and we continue to vigorously implement the programme in accordance with our work plans. Under the capable leadership of the MCA Namibia Board, and with the support of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the MCA Namibia Team is determined to implement the remaining activities within the agreed time period. To our Implementing Partners (Ministries of Education; Environment and Tourism; Lands and Resettlement; Agriculture, Water and Forestry; the Namibia Tourism Board and the Namibia Training Authority), the road during the quarter under review has not been all that smooth, but together we managed to reach consensus on the way forward. Your continued commitment to the partnership and the involvement of other stakeholders under your mandate contributed significantly to our achievements in implementing the Compact, and more specifically during this quarter. MCA Namibia activities were designed to create new and strengthen existing Public Private Partnerships as advocated by Government. It is in public-private partnerships where the practical formula for employment creation lies. We owe our achievements to all our stakeholders, among others, Traditional Authorities, Regional Councilors, Governors and communities at large, who have manifested themselves as true partners of the programme, by always being available to lend a helping hand, even at short notice. MCA Namibia looks forward to the next quarter and it is our hope that we will continue to make a positive and lasting impact to the lives of the Namibian people. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2011! MCA Namibia BULLETIN December

4 Schools on the Move MCA Namibia Schools on the Move On 9 and 10 September 2010, MCA Namibia signed its first works contracts with Nexus Building Contractors and China Jiangsu Namibia respectively. Namibia is the first country in the MCA group of countries funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation that signed a works contract in the first year of implementation of the Compact, which is quite an achievement. Starting in time will hopefully result in finishing on time and have all planned activities implemented by September Nexus will be renovating and expanding 8 schools in the Omusati Region while China Jiangsu will work at 5 school sites in the Oshana Region. A total of 21 companies had submitted bids for this work, At the signing ceremony in Windhoek, MCA Namibia s CEO, Ms. Penny Akwenye, emphasized the high expectations of MCA Namibia regarding the timely delivery of high quality workmanship from both companies. The 47 Schools Infrastructure Activity includes the renovation and expansion of 47 schools in the Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Kavango, Omaheke and Khomas regions. The works comprise the renovation of all existing infrastructure to be in a as good as new condition and the construction of additional classrooms, science laboratories, computer laboratories, libraries, ablution facilities and administration blocks. yet only 3 companies met all the administrative requirements, of which Nexus and China Jiangsu came out tops. In early October 2010, the MCA Namibia contracted Consultant for the Final Design, Costing and Supervision of the 47 Schools Infrastructure Activity, Omugongo Joint Venture, handed over the 13 schools sites to the two building contractors, earmarking the start of an 11-month construction period. The hand-over of two of the school sites, Etayi in Omusati and Ondjora in Oshana, was witnessed by Hon. Dr. Abraham Iyambo, Minister of Education, MCA Namibia s CEO, Ms. Penny Akwenye, the Hon. Governor of the Oshana Region, Mr. Clemens Kashuupulwa, and the Hon. Councillor Aipinge Aluvilu of the Onamulenge Constituency, representing the Hon. Governor of the Omusati Region, Mr. Sackey Kayone. Among the invited guests to attend the groundbreaking ceremonies were a number of Regional Councillors, members of the School Board, the headmaster of Etayi and Ondjora, pupils and community members. Hon. Dr. Abraham Iyambo addressing the learners. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Omusati Region was held on 12 October 2010 at Etayi Combined school. The guests, all 4 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010

5 Schools on the Move dressed in their colourful outfits, were gathered underneath large trees which provided natural shade. The Oshana Region ceremony was held at Ondjora Combined School, on 13 October A big tent was set up to provide shade for the people attending the MCA Namibia CEO, Ms. Penny Akwenye, gave a brief overview of the MCA Namibia Compact and the activities relating to the renovation and upgrading of the 47 Schools Activity throughout the various regions of Namibia. ceremony. The learners of Ondjora united in song and formed two rows leading to the entrance of the school ground creating an entrance tunnel for the arriving guests. Hon. Minister Iyambo in his address emphasized to the learners at Ondjora their responsibility to look after their school and to study hard and make a success of their lives and future careers. The official proceedings for both events followed the same sequence of events. Minister Iyambo could unfortunately not attend the ceremony at Etayi and Omusati Regional Education Director, Ms. Anna Nghipondoka, delivered his speech. The Ondjora Combined School Headmaster, Mr. Arnold Nandago as master of ceremonies, greeted all present and started proceedings. He then requested a person from the community to open with a prayer. A vote of thanks by the Headmaster and cultural dances from the community and the school closed the formal part of the groundbreaking ceremony. Learners at Ondjora Combined School welcoming the guests. MCA Namibia s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Penny Akwenye. MCA Namibia BULLETIN December

6 Schools on the Move After the entertainment, the delegation proceeded to the construction site to participate in the symbolic groundbreaking by starting the excavations for the foundations of the future buildings. The digging and shuffling under the hot Namibian sun called for some refreshments for the dignitaries, contractors, the community members. Traditional foods prepared by members of the community were served and this marked the end of the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the schools in the Oshana and Omusati Regions. Cultural dancers at Ondjora. At the Groundbreaking Ceremony the MCA Namibia sponsored School Clean-up Campaign was launched. The aim of this initiative is to try and foster environmental awareness in the learners leading to litter free school grounds. The Resident Engineer will evaluate each of the schools on a weekly basis on cleanliness The Ministry of Education and MCA Namibia are much excited that the actual construction work at 13 of the 47 school sites has now started in earnest and look forward to be present at the next hand over by September 2011, this time 13 newly renovated and expanded schools back from the contractor to the school management and learners community! while conducting his/her site visits. The three schools that have kept their school the cleanest during the 11-month construction period will walk away with prizes that will compliment the school s Life Science or Physical Education subjects. The symbolic groundbreaking. Some of the classrooms at Etayi Combined School to be renovated. 6 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010

7 Scales Arrive Weighing Cattle in the Northern Communal Areas Have you ever seen livestock trade in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) based on electronic devices that determine the exact weight of the animal that is up for sale? As I remember from various trips to the NCAs, cattle are traded by making use of the traditional approach of using the owner and trader s eye as determinant of weight and condition. Often cattle are being sold close to the beginning of an academic trimester when school fees have to be paid and parents require some additional funds to send kids to school. The buyers (who often are speculators) will use this as an opportunity to buy cheap, enabling them to be the price maker by subjectively informing the seller what the livestock is worth. For a Community-based Rangeland and Livestock Management Farmers from Opuwo and a Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Forestry Engineering Extension officer test the mobile scale. (CBRLM) programme to be successful, modern infrastructural development are required as well as an improved animal health support system including access to state veterinary offices. MCA Namibia facilitated the production of 7 mobile cattle crush pens with recently field-tested. Each unit is comprised of a registered and licensed trailer vehicle, detachable crush with closing gate, and a cattle scale unit (box, clamp and electronic reader). electronic scales to support to the (CBRLM) Sub-Activity. These specially designed mobile scales are a first for the NCAs and were The digital weight is accurate up to 500 grams and will improve the understanding of livestock owners as to how cattle weights change according to seasons, informing their decision to market their animals. The digital scale which is attached to the crush pen, shows the weight of the cattle weighed. Hand-over and presentation of the mobile scale. MCA Namibia BULLETIN December

8 Scales Arrive The unit can be easy drawn with an ordinary 4x4 vehicle for offroad transportation, although it is fairly heavy at 1 800kg. Once scale has a DC connection cable that can be connected to the vehicle s cigarette lighter port. the trailer is packed, it is easy to hook it onto a vehicle with only 2 men as it is equipped with a hydraulic lift that eliminates the need of manual lifting to connect the trailer to the vehicle. These new mobile scales will be very useful for the GOPA/NNF consortium that is implementing the CBRLM Sub-Activity and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), for both the One of the mobile scales was taken to Opuwo to be field tested during an auction on 27 October Assembling the unit took approximately 1.5 hours and required a minimum of 6 strong men because some components are heavy. One of the test results was that the operator has to know which piece fits in which position; it is like a puzzle. Another finding is that since the crush is slightly wider than the crushes typically used in the NCAs, the Sanga calves escape or the flow of cattle is blocked. Thus, the handling of livestock flow will have to be properly planned and controlled when using the mobile scales. Once the animals are inside the scales, accurate readings can be made, even with extension and veterinary directorates, when they work with local communities to train them in livestock management, in which weighing of the animal plays a role, all in support of increasing the trade in livestock. MAWF extension technicians welcome the mobile scales to meet the challenge to assist farmers in estimating the value of their cattle. Since the prices per kilogram (per grade) are known, now having the weight of the animal the farmer can calculate the approximate value the animal will fetch at the auction or at Meatco. The MAWF extension technicians at Opuwo say: Now we will use the scales to educate farmers about possible prices before market day will arrive. continued movement of the animal. The scales will be kept under the responsibility and charge of the The electronic device is fitted with a battery that can be recharged overnight prior to field usage and is capable of lasting for a whole day of use. In the event one forgets to charge the battery, the CBRLM livestock expert, Dr. Edmore Masaire. He summarized the possible usage of the 7 scales as follows: train farmers to improve their skills of estimating cattle weights, which will support their decision-making process to select cattle for marketing purposes (off-take); allow farmers to establish records of their cattle to supports the (phenotype) selection of the breeding herd; and use the scales to determine the biomass of herds to inform rangeland management decisions. The CBRLM sub-activity is a key component of MCA Namibia s Agriculture project, which aims to enhance the health and marketing efficiency of livestock in the NCAs and to increase income from indigenous natural products. Along with the Education and The mobile scale can easily be towed with a 4x4 vehicle. Tourism projects, it contributes to MCA Namibia s overall objective to reduce poverty through economic growth. 8 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010

9 Workshop MCA Namibia Provides Training on Revised Devil s Claw Policy Devil s claw is one of the most important commercialized indigenous natural products in Namibia, having been harvested and exported for the last 50 years. Namibia is the largest supplier of devil s claw in the world, supplying close to 95% of the world trade, and in this regard makes a small but significant contribution to Namibia s foreign currency earnings. materials were handed over to MET. This training workshop was the first in a series of training workshops that were conducted in the week thereafter in the Caprivi, Kavango and Otjozondjupa regions. These workshops were well attended by traders and MET officials. Herman Tobias, who together with his business partner, Maria MCA Namibia has been supporting the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to make certain changes to the existing policy on Devil s Claw to enable MET to ensure improved resource management of this important specie. Sasamba, have been involved in the trade of Devil s Claw for almost 13 years, attended the training workshop at the Polytechnic Hotel School on 16 November They expressed their appreciation for being able to attend the workshop as it was very important to stay informed on of the latest developments, adding In addition to supporting the revision of the Devil s Claw Policy, MCA Namibia has also been supporting the development of training materials for traders, exporters and MET officials. Training with respect to new or additional requirements as a result of changes in the policy is essential for ensuring the successful implementation of the policy by all involved. that it was not always the case that traders were included in such events. They mentioned that although being involved in the trade was beneficial, it was by no means a smooth road adding due to the relatively low prices they get for the raw materials. In this regard, Maria mentioned that adding value to Devil s Claw was one way of addressing this but that it was very difficult to set up a processing facility due to financial constraints. At a training workshop, attended by traders and MET officials, held in Windhoek on 16 November 2010 the relevant training It is hoped that through supporting various aspects related to INP (Indigenous Natural Products), the MCA Namibia Activity will make a positive contribution at all levels of the value chain, from harvesting INPs, the semi-processing and processing into final products, and the development of the INP sector in Namibia. MCA Namibia Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Implementation Drs. Eline van der Linden presenting the training materials of the revised Devil's Claw policy to MET Undersecretary Simeon Negumbo. Herman Tobias and Maria Sasamba were some of the harvesters trained on the revised policy. MCA Namibia BULLETIN December

10 Laboratory Equipment More Science Experiments for Trainee Teachers Toshi Haufiku (21 years) is a second year student, studying to become a Mathematics & Physical Science teacher at the University of Namibia (UNAM). She was delighted when on 21 October 2010 the Faculty of Education, Science Teaching Department received laboratory equipment worth N$500,000. The laboratory equipment seeks to improve the quality of the workforce by enhancing the equity and effectiveness of basic, vocational, and tertiary education and of technical skills. MCA Namibia is herewith responding to the needs of the Government which are identified in the Education and Training Sectors Improvement Programme (ETSIP). includes digestive models, human torso models, microscopes, hydrometers, voltmeters triple scales, force meters, density kits, circuit board kits, digital stopwatches, lab coats and scientific calculators. All these were procured with MCC funding through the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia. Toshi said I am very excited that the laboratory will now have an extra microscope which I can use unlike before when we hardly got an opportunity to use one. I look forward to using the scientific calculators as well, stated Toshi. Most tertiary institutions in Namibia do not have adequately equipped facilities to offer practical lessons for teacher students in the sciences, Mathematics, Physical Science, Biology and Chemistry. These practical experiments should be an integral element of the curriculum, equipping teacher students to become better educators after graduation. The new equipment will be put to good use not only at the UNAM main campus but also at the four Regional Campuses in Rundu, Toshi Haufiku experimenting with the new microscope. Katima Mulilo, Ongwediva and Windhoek. They will help make the science lessons more relevant and exciting by allowing for practical experiments, which in turn is likely to result in the improved performance of science education teacher trainees and ultimately the learners in primary and secondary schools. The purchase and hand-over of science equipment to UNAM is one of the activities in the MCA Namibia Education Project which Dean of Faculty of Education Prof. Ray Auala, Toshi Haufiku, Beverly Ngarizemo, Melanie Gertze, Wycliff showing off some of the equipment. 10 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010

11 Verification Process Roll Out of Verification Process of Land Parcels in the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia Ve towards secured land tenure rights that will contribute to improved agricultural productivity Improving livestock and rangeland management is supported by MCA Namibia through technical support and training in livestock health management, herd management and livestock marketing on the one side and on the other through technical support and training to the Ministry of Lands & Resettlement, Traditional Authorities and Communal Land Boards in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) for them to fast-track the land parcel verification and registration process. Legal user right over the land used by communal farmers will assist them in making better decisions regarding the use of this land, thereby reducing land degradation. A better understanding of the cycle of rangeland (or grass) management and livestock production and marketing is also expected to lead to improved use of available resources. All combined, a more sustainable use of the grassland resources in the NCA will lead to higher incomes for the farmers through better nourished and healthier livestock that fetches a higher price on the market which in turn serves as an incentive to market more livestock (and generate more money). The MCA Namibia contracted facilitator for the implementation of the Communal Land Support and Community Based Rangeland and Livestock Management Sub-Activities, GTZ International Services (GTZ-IS) and the GOPA Consortium, are hard at work to assist the respective line ministries, Agriculture, Water & Forestry (MAWF) and Lands & Resettlement (MLR), in fulfilling their mandate of an integrated and sustainable approach to natural resource management to the benefit of the people living in the NCAs. Over the last three years, substantial efforts have been undertaken by the MLR to devise an approach for the effective and efficient registration of communal lands. Use is made of aerial photography to identify and digitize the land parcels for registra- Sample of an ortho-photo enhanced with the near infrared band. tion. The aerial photos are enhanced using the ortho-photo technique which combines infrared data. An example is shown above. The ortho-photo is then interpreted on screen and validated on the ground with the communal farmers themselves, determining the borders of each specific land parcel. The ortho-photo with the vector boundaries is also displayed on the Land Registration Certificate of which an example is shown on the next page. This approach was successfully tested during the Olukonda Pilot Study in 2008 (in the Oshikoto Region), and is now also put in use by the GTZ-IS Communal Land Support Facilitator. Adopting the basic methodology developed by the MLR, with some enhanced features, by end of October 2010 the GTZ-IS team has identified approximately 15,000 relevant land parcels that will be fast-tracked for registration under the Communal Land Act of The selection of the parcels was guided by the areas where the CBRLM Sub-Activity is implemented and taking a propoor approach, which means that smaller parcels owned by lesser resourced communal farmers are included. The Communal Land MCA Namibia BULLETIN December

12 Verification Process receive training. The Traditional Authorities play a pivotal role in the verification of land parcels and ultimately the registration of these parcels. The headman and key informants from each village will join the verification team to facilitate good access to the village residents, and to help with the adjudication. Identification of Land Parcels Public Outreach Campaign Example of the back of a Land Registration Certificate with an aerial photo as background. Support registration areas so selected are shown below In the next phase, the actual verification process of customary rights in the six Communal Land Support Registration Areas will be rolled out. In preparation, a communication campaign will kick off now to prepare and inform the community members on: specific dates, times and places during which verification will be conducted in their area; and what is expected from them regarding their participation in the verification process. The targeted public outreach to the communities in the CLS registration areas will maximize the submission of voluntary applications and ensure optimal public participation in the verification process. Shortly after the civic education campaign, those Traditional Authorities (including headmen and secretaries) who govern the area where verification of the land parcels takes place, will Training of Traditional Authorities Applications for registration of land parcels Verification of land parcels with support from Traditional Authorities Formal Review and Adjudication by Communal Land Board Final Investigation by Communal Land Board before Land Registration The Verification Teams will be engaged from May to July 2011 in the Ohangwena Region, to be followed by the other regions in the NCAs. Upon completion of the verification of the land parcels, the Communal Land Boards will conduct a formal review (and where necessary adjudicate) of the applications obtained for verification. The actual registration process is the final phase, which will include the mobilization of investigating committees under the Communal Land Boards in accordance with section 37 of the Communal Land Reform Act. Overview of Communal Land Support registration areas. Not only will individual land owners benefit. Through land registration the rights of communities as a whole will also be secured and strengthened. These rights relate to the commonage, i.e. communal/common grazing areas, conservancies, and community forests. Securing both the individual and the community tenure rights in the NCAs is an important step towards realizing a more sustainable use of rangeland resources that will result in increased incomes from agricultural enterprises, conservancies ventures and harvesting of indigenous natural products. 12 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010

13 NTB Website Brand New Window to Tourism in New NTB Website Namibia s existence in the world of tourism. With a website portfolio second to none and credentials placing them among the best in the world, they won the bid for the creation of the new NTB website. From left to right Adam Benton website developer, US Embassy Charge d Affaires Ms. Ava Rogers, NTB CEO Digu // Naobeb and MCA Namibia Director of Tourism Dr. Fanuel Demas at the launch of the revamped NTB Website. At 12 p.m., 28 October 2010, the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) entered the 21st century. At that hour, the NTB relinquished its static website and embraced the future by launching a brand new dynamic, database driven and interactive website. Those invited to the launch of the new NTB Website had the privilege to be the first to explore the window through which the world of tourism could now view Namibia. Within a year, MMG enables the introduction of a website with extensive functionalities, including: A rotating banner containing the most spectacular Namibian scenery; A fully interactive Namibian map, which is populated by icons displaying the location of activities, accommodation and tourist attractions; and A flash image gallery. However, the feature that places this website among the best tourist websites in the world is not the splendid images but the functionality provided by its listings database. The database allows each NTB client to update their information as well as upload pictures onto a micro-site created for them. These micro-sites can then be accessed by web users via the interactive map. This allows activities, attractions and accommodations to be shown on the map for each town, city or region. How does one take the ruggedness, the desolation, the beauty, the sheer magnitude, the contrast of a country inhabited by a mere 2 million people and condenses all that in pictures and text only. How does one take the enormity of the Namib Desert, the depth of the Fish River Canyon, the vastness of the savannah and present all that in website frames that should leave the whole world mesmerized? These were among the challenges faced by the MCA Namibia and its Implementing Partner for the Tourism Marketing Activity in the MCA Namibia Compact, the NTB, in developing a new website for the country s tourism marketing parastatal. MCA Namibia, in consultation with NTB, contracted MMG Worldwide, a US multimedia and website development company, to illuminate With all these great features and inter-active abilities, MCA Namibia and NTB are welcoming your feedback whether you are a tourist visitor exploring the possibility of travel to Namibia, a longtime tourism friend of Namibia, a travel agent or other tourism sector service provider in accommodation, travel tours, activities, or other value added services; a website expert or perhaps just an internet explorer who tumbled onto the new NTB website! Words alone cannot do justice to the look, feel and information presented. So please feel invited, visit and explore this new window to Namibian tourism at Please click the option feedback at the bottom of the home page to provide us with your feedback. MCA Namibia BULLETIN December

14 Land Support MCA Namibia s Communal Land Support Activity Mobilized The MCA Namibia s Agriculture project includes the Communal Land Support (CLS) Sub-Activity which is aimed at empowering people living in the rural parts of the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) through land rights registration. Support is given to the Ministry of Lands & Resettlement to implement the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002, thereby fast-tracking the process of land registration in the Kunene, Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Kavango regions. To facilitate the implementation of this activity in the Compact, MCC funding was used to renovate an old building owned by the Ministry of Lands & Resettlement for use by the Communal Land Support Facilitator, GTZ International Services (GTZ-IS), contracted by MCA Namibia. GTZ-IS works closely with the Ministry of Lands & Resettlement and the Communal Land Boards in the NCA and provides training and technical assistance to the teams that implement the Communal Land Reform Act of Ultimately all Namibian people living in rural areas in the NCAs will After the MCA Namibia Compact, the building will be taken into use by the Communal Land Board for Oshana. have legal ownership over their land as they obtain proof of registration of their land parcel from the Communal Land Boards. Before... After... Communal Land Support building in Oshakati before and after the MCA-N renovation. 14 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010

15 Training From Dreams to Reality: MCA Namibia Funds Training for 60 Tour Guide Students at NATH One of the requirements of the scholarship agreement is that NATH should actively engage with other tourism operators to secure jobs for the trainees, and therefore income, for the trainees at the end of the course. This job placement condition is a first for training providers in Namibia and encourages training providers to not only provide training but to also assist trainees to succeed in accessing the workplace. MCA Namibia has budgeted US$4 million to provide scholarships Tour Guide trainees who will be pursuing a Level III certificate in Tour Guide. The dream of becoming top national tour guides came a step closer for 60 young Namibians recently, thanks to funding for tour guide training scholarships made available by MCA Namibia in collaboration with the Namibia Training Authority (NTA). The trainees, who came from as far as Caprivi, Ohangwena, Omusati, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Karas, and Erongo regions, will undertake an extensive training for eleven (11) months at the Namibian Academy for Tourism and Hospitality (NATH). NATH is the first training provider to sign an agreement for scholarships with MCA Namibia, with the total value of the scholarships being over N$2 million. The trainees gained some tourism experience in their previous jobs, but lacked the financial resources to study for the Level 3 Tour Guiding Certificate, which is nationally recognized by the National Qualifications Framework. They were selected through a process of successfully completing a challenging round of tasks which tested their listening and speaking skills, as well as their knowledge of local flora and fauna. over the next three years to eligible candidates to be trained in trades identified by the NTA as high priority with respect to skills shortages. The tour guide training commenced on 22 November 2010 in Swakopmund and Windhoek. Speaking at the launch of the trainees intake held in Windhoek on 17 November 2010, MCA Namibia s CEO Penny Akwenye stated that, through consultation with the Namibia Tourism Board, tourism training was identified as a priority training need, leading MCA Namibia to take on board the request to train young Namibians in tourism and hospitality. Akwenye further noted that the tour guide training complements the overall MCA Namibia intervention in the tourism sector, worth US$67 million, by providing the much needed skills, knowledge and service focused attitudes. At the same occasion the Millennium Challenge Corporation Deputy Resident Country Director, Mr. Oliver Pierson, expressed the hope that the guides can generate interest not only in established commercial tourism products and national parks, but also help increase tourism activities in conservancies in communal areas, thereby increasing the income of those living in conservancies. Over 300 applications were received for the scholarships, 114 short listed and 60 selected of which 44 were males and 16 females. MCA Namibia BULLETIN December

16 Highlights 2010 Highlights of 2010 Interventions 16 MCA Namibia BULLETIN December 2010