Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Sustainable Development Advisory Council during the 2021/ 2023 financial year has faced numerous operational challenges amongst them finances and a lack of limited awareness of the council.
The council which was inaugurated in 2015 by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, is a body of eight members appointed by the minister to advise him and to promote cooperation and coordination on environmental issues relating to sustainable development amongst organs of state.
According to the council’s annual report, while specific challenges were also faced during the reporting period, the situational analysis carried out as part of the development of the council’s Five Year Strategic Plan helped identify the council’s main challenges
The council said during the previous financial year it experienced Inadequate financial and human resources, weak partnership arrangements and stakeholder relations.
“Inadequate financial and human resources – the low budget allocation to the Council and lack of full-time staff members dedicated to the Secretariat are challenges to the effective operation of the Council. However, the development and implementation of the Resource Mobilization Strategy are expected to lead to improving the Council’s resource and financial support base to be able to fund its future activities and endeavours. The lack of full-time Secretariat staff remains a challenge,” read the report
The council also claimed that the effects of Covid-19 made it more difficult for it to operate its official duties
“Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and health matters on the Council members – the COVID-19 pandemic and private health matters impacted several members of the Council during the period under review, which posed a significant challenge towards the overall operations of the Council,” claimed the council.
Moreover, the council stated its goals and objectives are still not well-known. however, is expected to address this issue because it is built around three concepts to increase visibility, to inform stakeholders and to influence decision-making.
Chairperson of the council, Gloria Simubali said Although the operations and members of the council were hindered the were still achievements made.
Although the operations and members of the Council were once again by the COVID-19 pandemic and other health-related challenges, a number of notable achievements were made. These are outlined in this annual report and cover mainly: The publication of Namibia’s Second Integrated State of Environment Report, Hosting of Namibia’s Third Sustainable Development Awards; Finalization of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council Five Year Strategic Plan for 2021-2026; Finalization of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council Communications Strategy, and Finalization of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council Resource Mobilization Strategy, “she said.
Shifeta said: “The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism will continue to lean on the experience and expertise of the Council for advice
