Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Sustainable development – Namibia'

Men's and women's time-use in relation to wellbeing is well-investigated and understood within the context of the developed world. There has been limited research into the gendered experiences of time-use and three dimensional (3D) wellbeing in rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa and particularly so in semi-arid areas. As a result, failure to appreciate how time-use and wellbeing are experienced by the rural population in semi-arid areas impedes a full understanding of how rural inhabitants spend their time and how this makes them worse off or better off in different aspects of their wellbeing. This subsequently challenges the appropriateness of efforts to improve the lived experience of rural inhabitants. The study aimed to make a contribution to the knowledge gap on time-use and wellbeing by assessing how time-use relates to the experiences of material, subjective and relational aspects of wellbeing in a semi-arid area. It hypothesised that if men and women who are household-heads spend their time-use differently this has implications on their experiences of material, subjective and relational wellbeing. The study adopted a quantitative approach to primary data collection, analysis and interpretation of results. A questionnaire survey consisting of 93 randomly selected male and female headed households was conducted using stratified sampling techniques. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software including regression analysis and statistical tests (Mann Witney U test) from which descriptive and statistical results were presented in tables and graphs following regression analysis. The study yielded several findings including the importance of personal care for improved subjective wellbeing despite the trade-off with material wellbeing; the importance of age and social grants for ensuring a better experience of material wellbeing; the importance of social connections particularly for widows and widowers; as well as the significance of time spent on leisure and work-outside for improving relational wellbeing. In addition, women's disproportionally high time spent on domestic work leaves them feeling subjectively worse-off while the persistence of traditional gender role division seems to have a determining effect on the time-use and wellbeing experiences of household-heads in the study area. Overall, the study highlights time-use related opportunities and constraints for improving the wellbeing of rural inhabitants in Onesi, Namibia.

This paper examines the concept of environmental scarcity and the risk of conflict, in particular agriculturalscarcity and the risk of conflict. This paper compares the neighbouring countries Angola and Namibia, andinvestigates why Angola has had a conflict and why Namibia has had peace. This paper investigates if the conflict inAngola is caused by agricultural scarcity and if this is the explanation for the lasting Peace in Namibia.

The use of Environmental Assessment (EA) as a planning tool has been promoted in Namibia in recent years and a broad-based, consultative process to develop an umbrella Environmental Management Act, is underway. Most EAs conducted since 1990 were for prospecting and mining, and many were post-facto assessments that led to the development of Environmental Management Plans. This dissertation examines the links between sustainable development and EA, both from a theoretical perspective and on the basis of case study analysis. The objective is to assess the potential role of EA in promoting sustainable development in an arid, natural resource dependent, developing country. An overview of Namibia's socio-economic and environmental circumstances, development needs and options, past and current planning systems and commonalties within the region, provided a contextual setting for the analysis. The role of EA is assessed through a review of the planning and implementation of sector policies, plans, programmes and projects. A national questionnaire survey of decision makers provided insight into their knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards EA. Finally, the dissertation considers the trial implementation of "fast-track EA" in the small-scale mining sector. It remains difficult to ascribe the appropriate implementation of activities to the influence of EA. However, the dissertation shows that EAs enhanced the way development activities were planned and implemented, especially when applied at the strategic level. Even at the project level, EAs improved planning and implementation when introduced early in the process. The lessons learnt in Namibia confirm that public participation is crucial to the success of EA. EAs that disappointed were those where the process was dominated by a single stakeholder or where authorities either excluded or unduly influenced public participation. By helping to minimise negative impacts, EAs have reduced opportunity cost and have thus promoted sustainable development. The dissertation makes a number of key recommendations including the creation of broad-based administrative structures to implement EA, the diversified application of Strategic EA and the development of "fast track EA" to guide the increasingly important small and informal sectors of Namibia's economy.

This study investigates key decision-makers' perceptions of sustainable sea fisheries in Namibia, and explores the possibilities for the future development of education programmes that focus on "sustainability" in the fisheries sector. The concept of "sustainability" and its application in the context of a biological resource, namely sea fisheries, was examined. A series of questions were raised concerning sustainable fisheries: intergenerational implications of patterns of resource use, equity concerns, time horizons, and the protection of marine biodiveristy, among others. Examples from the Namibian and the European Community Sea Fisheries Industries are used to illustrate these issues. In spite of divergent views on what "sustainability" means, the study leads to certain findings that have broader policy implications. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews undertaken with six (6) key decision-makers in the Sea Fisheries Industry of Namibia, then analysed and assessed. The perceptions of key decisionmakers were determined by qualitative analysis in the interpretive paradigm. The data indicated some agreement in terms of what the key decision-makers think about the sustainable utilisation of the fisherjes resources. It is almost impossible to have complete agreement, because the decision-makers are from different contextual backgrounds. Those who make the decisions are more concerned about "how to manage" and those who act on the decisions put more emphasis on economic self-interest. Although the interviewees' perceptions of sustainable fisheries was imperfect, there was broad support for its aims and principles. The study also revealed that the achievement of sustainable sea fisheries development in Wamibia will require broader educational and public awareness programmes to enhance participation in decision-making debates. Formal and informal marine environmental education, from the perspective of "Responsible Fishing" has been emphasised.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research found and understood that the ability of the case study organisation (company X) to understand sustainability issues and stakeholder interests lies in the firm‟s core purpose and strategy (i.e. the notion of incorporating sustainability into business decisions). The research also understood that at company X the three strategy propositions (value, profit, people) are achieved through the process of implementing the company‟s change initiatives for sustainability and in turn support the company to evolve towards a sustainable enterprise. The ability to make sustainability a fundamental aspect of its business decisions is what distinguishes company X such that it can successfully design, introduce and diffuse strategies, practices and cultural traits aligned with sustainable models The researcher further believes that change interventions or initiatives carried out at company X such as value delivery, workforce plan alignment and cash generation are expected to enhance responsibility and accountability of employees. At company X, individuals are informed and allowed a great deal of autonomy when it comes to generating ideas to tackle strategic initiatives. The sense of inclusiveness allows individuals in company X to change their identity and behaviour in line with ideal models of the sustainable enterprise.

Can mining industries and mining based localities promote Local Economic Development (LED)? This case study, on the mining town of Oranjemund, seeks to examine the economic diversification prospects of the town. Stakeholder views are considered and their aspirations determined, through an interview process. Relevant theories on economic development, growth and sustainability are outline. Lessons are drawn from local and international empirical studies on mining towns. The roles and contributions stakeholders and institutions could realize that could lead to local economic diversification and LED are defined. The opportunities and threats that could affect the town’s LED process are identified. This paper concludes that it is imperative that sound relationships be developed amongst key stakeholders. It further, recommends that a strategic LED plan be designed for Oranjemund and that national government, through the regional and local authority, lead the process.

Roughly 10% of the Namibian GDP and over 40% of total exports are dependent on themining sector. Namibia is one of the five leading uranium producing countries worldwide withperspectives to triple the production in the following years. This study aims to identify the implicationsto sustainable development of the country carried by such a strategy to stimulate the economic growth.The complexity of the issue is addressed by an interdisciplinary set of methods leading to a betterunderstanding of processes linking uranium mining in Namibia with the environment, society and theglobal economy. Regulatory, trade and production systems are outlined and assessed, after which astakeholder analysis is conducted in order to determine who are the most influential actors as well asparties affected by the uranium production in Namibia. The results reveal a great dependence of the Namibian uranium mining sector on external factors, with the government perceived as the most affected stakeholder.

The contribution of local knowledge to land use planning and sustainable utilization of natural resources is enormous, yet often overlooked by conventional top-down approaches of regional integrated land use plans. The rich knowledge of local land users contribution to implementation of top-down plans is very important. This study investigated the importance of environmental criteria analysis in sustainable land management through engaging the community at local level, using Salambala Conservancy in Katima Mulilo Rural, Lusese Village in Kabbe and Mayuni Conservancy in Linyanti constituencies, Caprivi region, North East Namibia as case studies.

Thesis (MTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015.
Vegetable ivory is the generic term used when referring to the nut of palm trees. Although their outward appearance varies depending on the variety of the palm, the nuts are all known to be hard, ivory-like in colour and lend themselves to shaping in various forms. The craft-related use of vegetable ivory in Namibia has been limited to carving in the past. The nut, known locally as Makalani seed, is the seed of the Hyphaene Petersiana palm fruit. Vegetable ivory products found globally prove that this non-timber forest product (NTFP) has greater potential than what is currently being explored by Namibian crafters. Similar nuts are found across the globe, including the South American tagua nut. The tagua nut has a pronounced role in the craft-related market place due to its popularity as a sustainable alternative to animal ivory. It has also provided many locals with employment and a stable form of income. Globally, focus has expanded to address the sustainability of the integrity of forest systems, as economic profits to be gained from timber-producing trees, no longer take sole priority. Rural households are making use of NTFPs as a source of income and often use the money generated from trading as a safety net in times of economic challenges. Developing management strategies for addressing global climate change has become an increasingly important issue influencing forest management around the globe. Participatory forest management is one of the strategies developed for addressing issues arising from global climate change. It is aimed at rural development, by involving locals living in the area, in programmes that involve domestication of indigenous fruit trees. By means of participatory action research (PAR) and co-design sessions, the study looked at expanding the scope of manufacturing techniques used when crafting the Makalani seed. The list of sustainable manufacturing practices generated from the data informed the creation of the crafter’s product. Expanding the range of manufacturing practices feeds into the potential the seed has as an income-generating product. These techniques contribute to the body of knowledge of craft in Namibia by addressing the issue of sustainability by exploring the potential of the Makalani nut as a crafting material as well as a medium of teaching various crafting skills. It also engaged the researcher in contributing towards social upliftment, while allowing crafters to engage in experimenting with new sustainable techniques used globally on similar seeds that could benefit their generating of income. By assessing data gathered in the codesign sessions, recommendations were made towards elevating the Makalani seed from its current craft level to that of a well-used NTFP craft material. The nature of participatory action research required analysing gathered data to feed into a solution for solving a local problem. The study is of a qualitative nature, and involved a case-study of one, a local crafter. Participatory action design was the framework for the research, as both researcher and crafter explored how the Makalani nut lends itself to techniques used on the tagua nut. It is through this lens that the study speaks to the practices of respect and responsibility, as well as that of sustainability within the parameters of a Namibian context

The scarcity of water and especially the lack of safe drinking water have been accepted as amongst the most serious challenges facing the twenty-first century. The lack of access to water is a global problem that faces between 460 million to more than 1 billion people as a result of an increasing demand for water as well as a diminishing supply of water resources. The lack of access to potable water poses a great constraint on the societal and individual well-being for the inhabitants of the semi-arid regions of southern Africa and the key area needed to improve the sustainable development of water resources and services has been identified as water governance. The aim of this research is, therefore, to understand how access to potable water affects the well-being of communities living in the Cuvelai-Etosha basin in Namibia and to understand how these communities participate in water governance. The Okalonga B and Onandjandja villages were used as case studies.The objectives of this study are to examine how water is accessed and determine what the barriers are in accessing potable water, to examine how the well-being of the communities in the two villages is affected by water access and to explore how communities are engaged in water governance. The overall methodology of the study was based on a qualitative approach to case study research. Interviews were conducted at the household level, the constituency and regional levels using semi-structured interview guides. The study found that the communities of Okalonga B and Onandjandja access water through hand-dug wells, private and communal taps, Etaka dam and Oshana, and boreholes. A total of 6 barriers to accessing potable water were identified. These included distance to communal taps, amount of water one can carry, administration of water infrastructure, maintenance of water infrastructure, ability to pay the set water fees and specific times allocated for collecting water. The barriers to accessing potable water negatively affect the well-being of communities. Communities felt that they would have better economic opportunities if they had access to potable water which would in turn improve their well-being and livelihood opportunities. Furthermore, the study found that community participation in water governance was poor.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
The health benefits associated with physically active lifestyles are well known and the World Health Organisation has acknowledged its significance in preventative and rehabilitative health care. It is recommended by the World Health Organisation that children, aged 6 to 17 years, should participate in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on a daily basis

Before Namibia's independence in 1990 educational programmes and curricula gave little attention to environmental education which was detrimental to the development of environmental literacy in Namibia. The post independence education reform process paid special attention to the inclusion of environmental education in all spheres of learning. Furthermore, Namibia became a signatory to various environmental conventions thereby raising awareness about the environment and the potential challenges to a sustainable future. The initiatives of various environmental education projects since independence have responded to the growing concern of environmental education programmes, resulting in the establishment of the Namibian Environmental Education Course (NEEC). To date few studies have been conducted examining the relevance of EE programmes in relation to the professional practice of EE providers in the non-formal sector. This study focuses on the work done by two environmental education providers and four assistant environmental education tutors in Rundu, in North-Eastern Namibia. The study adopted a qualitative approach to investigate how the NEEC has shaped and informed the practice of EE providers in the non-formal sector and also how the NEEC has responded to the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme. The study employed three data collection instruments: interviews, field observations and document analysis. The findings indicated that despite the input of the NEEC programme which provided an understanding and knowledge of environmental problems to the EE providers, there are issues that continue to hamper the effective practice of these providers. The study revealed that the NEEC programme, while within the structure of ESD, does not give explicit guidelines for identifying Namibia's environmental challenges and clear strategies of how to respond to these challenges. The findings of the study have provided valuable insights into aspects of an EE programme that need to be addressed to support EE providers in responding to key environmental challenges in their regions and contribute to the decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

Thesis (MPhil (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
This assignment presents the analysis of poor public participation in the Khomas Regional Council where there is a need for popular participation in the development initiatives and projects. Public participation, allows the public to participate in programmes and projects through established institutions and structures. The main objective of the study was to conduct three months’ internships to investigate the importance of community participation. The study envisaged assessing the effectiveness of the Council to deliver basic services such as drinking water, adequate shelter, and sanitation to the community by taking the limited resources into consideration. The study also analysed some challenges the Council is facing in the implementation of the sustainable human settlement projects. The complex and multidimensional nature of public participation is dealt with. As a result, participation can give women and other groups of people who are usually marginalized from the community activities the opportunity to influence development initiatives in their communities. In terms of design and methodology, the active participation and direct involvement as well as working with Council’s staff and the community at large formed the basis of the study. The survey on public participation conducted by Regional Council revealed that absence of public participation policy and legislation makes it difficult for Councillors to implement the public participation process. There is lack of information sharing and communication breaks down between councilors and residents. Lack of capacity building and resources for Constituency Development Committee members prevails in Khomas region. There is confusion regarding political meetings and there is also poor attendance to meetings. In addition, the study recommends that Council should forge a constant consultation and collaboration between the Regional Council and citizens. Establish mechanisms and structures through which citizens can initiate voluntary and interested groups to facilitate their participation in the Regional affairs. Create forums for meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences to discuss and debate pertinent issues. Strengthen the capacity of Regional Development Coordinating Committee (RDCC), Constituency Development Committee (CDCs) and other structures.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Approximately three out of four people in developing countries such as Namibia live in rural areas. The majority of these rural poor’s livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on agriculture. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design agricultural programmes that focus on rural communities in order to reduce incidences of poverty. Although the Namibian Government invests in the agricultural sector, hunger for both humans and animals were evident in 2012. The starvation situation was worsened by high food prices, compounded with a high unemployment rate that meant the majority of the population could not afford to pay for food. Evidence shows that Namibia is a net food importer; meaning that less local food production is taking place. Therefore, the government is trying to reverse the situation of relying on imported food, by enhancing local production, and one of the ways of achieving this goal is through the Green Scheme Programme. The research problem of this study is defined as follows: “An evaluation of the Green Scheme Programme: A case of the Kalimbeza Rice Project”. The study commences by exploring the literature on the role of the state in improving the socioeconomic status of its citizens. Many developing countries have weak private sectors; therefore, governments remain with the responsibility to spearhead development. With unrestrained unemployment, poverty and inequality, state-led development is the solution in uplifting the socio-economic status of people, especially the rural poor. Since the rural poor depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, it is necessary for Government to devise Sustainable Livelihood programmes in the sector, which many people rely upon for survival. Reducing incidences of rural poverty calls for Sustainable Livelihood programmes that the Namibian Government came up with, such as the approximately N$ 1.2 billion per annum Green Scheme Programme. This is an irrigation programme that aims at increasing agricultural production, contribute to the Gross Domestic Product, promote food security, create jobs and promote skills development. The study sought to establish whether the Green Scheme Programme is effective in achieving its intended, and at times, unintended goals. The Kalimbeza Rice Project, under the Green Scheme Programme was chosen as a case study. Evidence from the study shows that employment creation took place, because many locals have secured temporary jobs at the farm, and the salaries earned have had a positive impacts on their lives. Food security has not been fully achieved, as only about 25 per cent of the total farm area is cultivated yearly. Finally, the study suggests that there is an urgent need for the Green Scheme Programme and all its projects to speed operations in order to achieve the country’s Vision 2030.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ongeveer drie uit elke vier mense in ʼn ontwikkelende land soos Namibië is woonagtig in landelike gebiede. Die meerderheid van landelike armes se inkomste is direk of indirek afhanklik van lanbou aktiwiteite. Dus, is daar ʼn dringende behoefte aan lanbou ontwikkelingsprogramme wat spesifiek fokus op landelike gemeenskappe om sodoende die voorkoms van armoede te verminder. Alhoewel die Namibiese regering belê in die lanbousektor, was lae vlakke van voedselsekuriteit vir beide mens en dier nogsteeds sigbaar in 2012. Die kroniese hongerte situasie in Namibië word grotendeels verger deur hoë voedselpryse. ʼn Hoë werkloosheidsyfer dra ook daartoe by dat die meerderheid armes nie voedsel kan bekostig nie. Navorsing toon dat Namibië ʼn netto invoerder is van kos. Dit beteken dat Namibië minder plaaslik voedsel produseer. Gevolglik, probeer die Namibiese regering die afhanklikheid op ingevoerde voedsel verminder deur die verbetering van plaaslike produksie vermoëns. Een van die maniere wat hulle gebruik om dit te bewerkstellig is deur die regering se Green Scheme Program. Die navorsingsprobleem van dié studie word as volg gedefinieer: ʼn Evaluering van die Green Scheme Program: Die Kalimbeza Rice Project as gevallestudie. Die vertrekpunt van dié studie begin deur die verkenning van literatuur wat spesifiek handel oor die rol van die staat in die verbetering van die sosio-ekonomiese status van sy burgers. Baie ontwikkelende lande het swak of klein privaat sektore, dus bly regerings verantwoordelik om ontwikkeling moontlik te maak. Ongebreidelde werkloosheid, armoede en ongelykheid noodsaak staat geleide ontwikkeling as die enigste oplossing vir die opheffing van die sosio-ekonomiese status van mense, veral landelike armes. Die feit dat landelike armes grotendeels afhanklik is van landbou vir inkomstes en oorlewing, is dit nodig vir die regering om ʼn Volhoubare Lewensbestaan Program te ontwikkel in die sektor, waarop baie mense aangewese is vir oorlewing. Die vermindering van voorvalle van landelike armoede kan toegeskryf word aan die Volhoubare Lewensbestaan Program wat deur die Namibiese regering geïmplementeer word, soos die ongeveer N$ 1.2 biljoen per jaar Green Scheme Program. Dit is ʼn besproeiingstelsel program wat verhoogde lanbouproduksie ten doel het, as ook bydra tot die Bruto Binnelandse Produk, bevordering van voedselsekuriteit, werkskepping en die bevordering van vaardigheidsontwikkeling. Dié studie sal poog om vas te stel of die Green Scheme Program effektief is in die bereiking van beoogde doelwitte, en by tye, die bereiking van onvoorsiene doelwitte. Die Kalimbeza Rice Project, as deel van die Green Scheme Program, sal dien as n gevallestudie. Getuienis van die studie toon dat werkskepping wel plaasgevind het, omdat baie plaaslike inwoners tydelik in diens geneem is op die plaas, en die salarisse ontvang het alreeds ʼn positiewe effek gehad op hul lewens. Voedsel sekuriteit is nog nie ten volle verwesenlik nie, omdat slegs 25% van die totale plaas oppervlakte onder verbouing is. Gevolglik, dui die studie daarop dat daar ʼn onmiddelike behoefte bestaan vir die Green Scheme Program en al sy onderskeie projekte om sodoende pogings te versnel in die bereiking van die land se Visie 2030.

Previously, strategy formulation for large-scale eradication of tsetse in southern Africawas dominated by straightforward technical considerations. The current shift to localised control of tsetse-transmitted bovine trypanosomosis has changed the emphasis from the vector to the disease. Nagana remains the main reason for intervening but control methods will differ according to the local situation and interventions will be restricted to those areas where the disease is present. As a result, the technical criteria to be considered will differ substantially from those considered in the planning for large-scale eradication. First, a clear picture of the extent and magnitude of the bovine trypanosomosis problem is required. Second, the selection ofthe most efficient intervention methods will vary according to the local epidemiological situation. Hence, the different epidemiological situations need to be identified and the effectiveness of available control methods needs to be evaluated in each of the situations. Finally, the long-term sustainability of an intervention will depend, to a large extent, upon the socio-economic impact of the disease and perceived benefits accruing from its control. Tsetse-transmitted bovine trypanosomosis occurs in large areas of Malawi, Zambia,Zimbabwe and Namibia. The epidemiology of the disease differs substantially between areas. On the plateau of eastern Zambia, for example, cattle are kept in a tsetse infested area. Because of the encroachment of people and cattle into the tsetse infested area and the concomitant reduction in the number of game animals, tsetse have become highly dependent on cattle as their source of food. As a result, the distribution and density of tsetse is determined largely by the distribution and changes in the distribution or grazing pattern of cattle. Trypanosoma congolense is the main.trypanosome species in tsetse and cattle. The prevalence of congolense-type trypanosomal infections in tsetse undergoes little variations between months and is affected mainly by the average age of the tsetse population. The incidence of bovine trypanosomosis is significantly correlated with the density of the tsetse population.Bovine trypanosomosis is also prevalent in areas where cattle are kept adjacent to a tsetse-infested zone or where tsetse occasionally invade a tsetse-free area. In Malawi,for example, the main foci of bovine trypanosomosis are located adjacent to tsetse infested national parks, game reserves or forest reserves. Bovine trypanosomosis also occurs far outside the known tsetse foci because of the seasonal movement of tsetse,along rivers or because of, often small, undetected tsetse foci. Such foci have been detected in Malawi and in Zimbabwe. In most of the areas, bovine trypanosomosis is caused by T congolense. However, the prevalence of T vivax infections is high in areas where tsetse take a large proportion of feeds on game animals. Please read the full abstract in the section 00 front of this document.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2000.
Veterinary Tropical Diseases
unrestricted

Bibliography: leaves 130-136.
This dissertation is based on the theoretical assumption that in order for conservation to be achievable it must go hand in hand with development, without undermining development of the environment continuing to degrade. At Independence, Namibia inherited a number of environmental and developmental challenges from previous government systems, including slow and even economic growth, a predominantly rural population dependent on the primary production of natural resources for their survival, human-induced loss of rangelands and croplands and a historical alienation from natural resources of residents from communal lands. As a result, Namibia finds herself confronting a number of development imperatives including the need to address and minimise inherited socio-economic and environmental debts as well as ensure that people are able to meet their basic needs. A further key finding of the REIA was that design, planning and implementation of policies, programmes, plans and projects in Namibia should seek to protect and enhance this sensitive environment, and ill-advised development activities may cause or contribute to additional environmental degradation. Recognising this, and in keeping with international trends, the Namibian conservation authorities, following Independence from South Africa began developing a national community-based natural resource management programme (CBNRM) aimed at addressing some of the key constraints of past conservation approaches and promoting development and conservation. One of the principle means of linking CBNRM and development is through the vehicle of conservancies, a defined geographical area which has been established for the management, conservation and utilisation of its wildlife and other natural resources for the benefit of a specific community. Whilst the conservancy approach was originally designed for application on commercial farms, the intention of communal land conservancies is that a community, within a defined geographical area, jointly manage, conserve and utilise the wildlife and other natural resources within the defined area. In so doing, conservancies aim to help promote sustainable environmental management, rural development and improved income and livelihoods for rural families and communities. The conservancy approach therefore is intended to be simultaneously a vehicle for development and for conservation.

This study sought to investigate teacher, learner and parental perceptions and understanding of a whole school approach in environmental education (EE). There were five schools piloting environmental education through a whole school development approach in the Oshana Region of Namibia. The study was conducted in two rural schools in the Oshana Region. The schools were selected because they participated and piloted the infusion of environmental education themes in the curriculum through the whole school approach during the Supporting Environmental Education in Namibia (SEEN) project piloting phase from 2001 to 2005. This study was shaped and informed by international theories, practices and perspectives of a whole school approach as cited in chapter two of this study. In other words a whole school approach has provided theoretical background information and a practical framework on which this study was built. A whole school approach provides a theoretical understanding of how the school community, the biophysical environment, as well as the curriculum can benefit from EE projects through a whole school development approach. The whole school approach, discussed in this study, provides an opportunity to see the link between the whole school approach and ESD in order to understand the role a whole school approach plays in the implementation of ESD in Namibia. The research took the form of an interpretive case study focusing on a study of two teachers, two learners, and two members of the community. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis and site observations. This study was undertaken two years later after the Supporting Environmental Education Namibia (SEEN) pilot project phased out. The findings indicate that despite the training and support received by the schools during the operation of the Supporting Environmental Education Namibia (SEEN) pilot project, schools are still experiencing problems with the application of a whole school approach. The findings revealed that the curriculum should provide guidelines and examples to support teachers on how to integrate environmental education in the teaching and learning process. The results of the study indicate that teachers, learners and members of the community have a limited understanding about how a whole school development approach in environmental education is linked to Education Sustainable Development (ESD) and the four dimensions of the environment.

M.A. (Development Studies)
Namibia is a land of great disparities with regard to income distribution and access to resources, which results in the experience of poverty by selected groups of her people. A superficial glance at poverty indicators in Namibia, such as Gross Domestic Product per capita, would not illustrate the depth of the problem that skewed income distribution and access to resources, as indicated by the Gini Coefficient and Human Development Index respectively, would highlight, for the different regions and communities within Namibia. This study aimed to investigate the extent of urban poverty in Keetmanshoop, as very little research had been undertaken in the southern parts of Namibia. Keetmanshoop faces an additional challenge in proactively planning for development alternatives, in view of the nearing completion of the Trans-Kalahari Highway, which will provide an alternative transport route between Gauteng (in South Africa) and Angola, and Zambia, via Namibia. It was anticipated that this would greatly reduce the amount of road traffic through Keetmanshoop and subsequently reduce the economic activity of the town. At the heart of this study were three broad aims, namely to establish a basis of information on the socio-economic conditions experienced by the residents of Keetmanshoop. Secondly, to determine the residents' attitudes towards, and perceptions of development opportunities and needs in the research area. Finally, it was aimed to identify the value of sustainable development as an appropriate development approach and thereby establish a theoretical framework for the contextualization of the development alternatives recommended for Keetmanshoop. In order to establish this base of information four research methods were utilised, namely informal in-depth-interviews with 18 community leaders, formally structured survey schedules with 500 respondents, follow-up personal interviews with 30 residents and a community essay competition...

M.Tech. Internal Auditing
Mining can have a positive impact on Namibia by contributing towards economic growth and infrastructure development, by creating jobs, and by increasing foreign currency earnings; but on the other hand, the exploration of natural resources often runs in parallel with corruption, exploitation, environmental devastation, and population displacement through migrant labour. It is therefore imperative for mines to be sustainable in their operations: in other words, mines must protect and enhance the economic, social and environmental milieus of Namibia. The main objective of a mining company is profit maximisation through exploitation of natural resources, and the company can therefore be defensive, even antagonistic, towards sustainable operations and sustainability reporting. The pressure from mining companies' stakeholders for them to be transparent in their operations, and to report on all sustainability-related issues is increasing, and research has indicated that mining companies are, in the majority, supportive of the initiative, and realise the advantages of pursuing sustainable operations. Research results from the study indicated that between the different types of companies, and between countries, there is a significant variation in the sustainability reporting performance, both delivered and required. Improvement opportunities were identified in a number of areas with regards to the quality, consistency and extent of sustainability reporting. The rationale and the motivation for this study was therefore to determine the standard of integrated sustainability reporting being achieved by mining companies in Namibia, in order to determine the needs and shortcomings in the sustainability reporting arena. The final deliverable of this study was to develop a reporting framework which could enable enhanced integrated sustainability reporting by providing the mining industry in Namibia with a structured framework that conforms to world class standards.

Magister Artium - MA
According to Professor Muhammed Yunus, Nobel Prize winner in 2006 and the founder of the internationally acclaimed Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, microfinance is a viable solution to poverty alleviation among the poorest people residing in rural areas. Microfinance programs have led to poverty alleviation and empowerment of especially rural based women of developing societies, as they enable the poor to manage their finances and cope with unpredictable shocks and emergencies (Yunus, 2007). This research evaluated the developmental impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation and women empowerment. It assessed the impact of the existing microfinance programmes among the members of the three microfinance Savings and Credit Associations (SCAs) in the rural areas of the Caprivi region of Namibia. This study explored whether microfinance programs have helped their members to minimize financial vulnerability through diversification of income sources and accumulation of assets. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Data were collected through different qualitative and quantitative techniques (in-depth individual interviews, faceto- face interviews, questionnaire and questionnaire schedule). Summary findings indicate that the SCAs has positively contributed to the socio-economic improvement in the living standards (contribution to livelihood – increased income, enhanced health, and food status), improved education/healthcare, women empowerment through micro enterprise training and skill development. However, SCAs are still struggling with challenges, such as lack of income, high default rates and unprofitable micro enterprises. This research makes several recommendations, including: MFIs should concentrate on women’s economic empowerment as their main aim, incentives should be provided to the MFIs to encourage savings and investment amongst the poor, and if microfinance is to be used as a promotional tool for credit and saving services for the poor, then the socio-economic consequences of micro-credit lending have to be re-investigated, especially when they negatively impact on poverty reduction.

Conservation is increasingly understood to require collective action, particularly in the context of community based conservation. This thesis is premised on the proposition that understanding the dynamic nature of the relationship between collective identity and collective action is fundamental to management of common pool resources such as are created through establishment of community conservancies in Namibia. I used collective identity and resilience theories to develop a framework for exploring change in collective action in the Doro !Nawas conservancy in Namibia. The framework is based on the assumption that change in collective action is dependent upon the temporal changes in two attributes of collective identity; identification and affective commitment. It is suggested that the framework also yields insight into how these may be applied in adaptive management. The research is informed by an interpretive paradigm accepting that collective identity and collective action are social constructs and that personal meanings could be revealed through in-depth interviews and documentary analysis. Computer aided software (Nvivo), manual analysis and a mix of inductive and deductive analysis yielded excerpts, codes and themes that were used to interpret change in the two attributes. The framework I proposed to understand how identification and affective commitment influence collective action was helpful as a general model but it tends to convey a degree of cohesion and homogeneity that does not reflect the real situation, particularly during the ‘collapse’ phase when members of the collective respond to disturbances. My results show that collectives, including organisations, should be understood as collectives of individuals and groups of individuals who express differing levels of identification and affective commitment. Narratives can be used to track change in identification and affective commitment in collectives. Thus, the identification and affective commitment of members is reflected in the language they use to express feelings, thoughts and experiences toward the collective and behaviours that are supportive or destructive to collective identity. A need for incorporating collective identity into adaptive management is identified. I suggest that incorporating collective identity in strategic adaptive management would make those who engage with the process mindful of the collective identity, and therefore more inclined to manage collective identity in order to achieve the collective action required for successful common pool resources management. I use the findings of my research to identify four issues for further research in community based collectives: firstly, research that focuses on the how to design institutional arrangements for conservancies and similar organisations that are more accessible and responsive to the collective; secondly, research on understanding the role and influence benefit sharing can have in sustaining a collective identity that is supportive of conservancies and how it would contribute to making these systems more resilient; thirdly, research to determine how strategic adaptive management can be restructured and implemented in conservancies and protected areas so that it helps to sustain a collective identity and the collective actions that are required to secure them for future generations; finally, whether the long term intentions of community based conservation might be better served if the instruments of governance and the procedures for their application were engineered to make these social ecological systems more robust and if so, how this might be achieved.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

The Namibian curriculum is premised on the view that there is a need for a holistic development and preparation of learners for a knowledge-based society. The draft National Environmental Education policy, the basic education policy and curriculum development processes in Namibia devolved the power and responsibility to implement environmental learning practice to schools. This research focus on the extent to which schools coordinate environmental education (EE) activities, educators’ perception of their environment, knowledge of EE processes, assessment approaches, the out-door activities, learning support materials, community involvement and EE school policy issues. Wickenburg (2000:56) affirms that “for substantial learning to take place, stakeholders should work actively and establish local supportive structures for EE in Schools”. Educators are expected to deal with practical issues which create opportunities for learners to develop environmentally responsive knowledge, skills and attitudes. The research design is a mixed methods research approach, which includes aspects of the quantitative and qualitative approach. The methodology involved data collection methods such as interviews with educators and a local EE officer, focus group discussions with learners and a self-assessment questionnaire for educators. The data was then analysed and interpreted in relation to a set of theoretical perspectives. The research concluded that educators have knowledge of factual information about environmental learning topics such as population, biodiversity and environmental degradation. Educators have the comprehension of indigenous knowledge and continuously assess learners. Educators however, seldom communicated the way people’s cultural activities affect the environment and did not value cultural practice and indigenous knowledge. Many educators did not use the local environments to do practical activities with learners. Schools did not have EE school policy, rarely practised outdoor activities and local communities are not involved school EE activities. Learners are knowledgeable of their local environmental issues. Based on the finding of the research I came up with a list of recommendations to guide the process of implementation of environmental learning at schools.
(M. Ed. (Environmental Education))

The Namibian curriculum is premised on the view that there is a need for a holistic development and preparation of learners for a knowledge-based society. The draft National Environmental Education policy, the basic education policy and curriculum development processes in Namibia devolved the power and responsibility to implement environmental learning practice to schools. This research focus on the extent to which schools coordinate environmental education (EE) activities, educators’ perception of their environment, knowledge of EE processes, assessment approaches, the out-door activities, learning support materials, community involvement and EE school policy issues. Wickenburg (2000:56) affirms that “for substantial learning to take place, stakeholders should work actively and establish local supportive structures for EE in Schools”. Educators are expected to deal with practical issues which create opportunities for learners to develop environmentally responsive knowledge, skills and attitudes. The research design is a mixed methods research approach, which includes aspects of the quantitative and qualitative approach. The methodology involved data collection methods such as interviews with educators and a local EE officer, focus group discussions with learners and a self-assessment questionnaire for educators. The data was then analysed and interpreted in relation to a set of theoretical perspectives. The research concluded that educators have knowledge of factual information about environmental learning topics such as population, biodiversity and environmental degradation. Educators have the comprehension of indigenous knowledge and continuously assess learners. Educators however, seldom communicated the way people’s cultural activities affect the environment and did not value cultural practice and indigenous knowledge. Many educators did not use the local environments to do practical activities with learners. Schools did not have EE school policy, rarely practised outdoor activities and local communities are not involved school EE activities. Learners are knowledgeable of their local environmental issues. Based on the finding of the research I came up with a list of recommendations to guide the process of implementation of environmental learning at schools.
Environmental Education
(M. Ed. (Environmental Education))