34 research outputs found
Innovative Way of Transferring Education and Training Facilities in Namibia. The Adult Skills Development for Self_Emplyments (ASDSE) Project
No full textThis paper investigates new ways to transfer entrepreneurial education to previously disadvantaged individuals. It analyses the case of the ASDSE project, implemented in the form of partnership between the Namibian Government, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) and a commercial bank. The main concept was to train the District Learner Officials already in the field for the National Literacy Programme in Namibia (NLPN), and at a later stage to assign them to the tasks of selecting, training and monitoring the entrepreneurs. Since the launch of this project 330 loans amounting to N 150,000)were disbursed to unemployed and underemployed Namibians, 70% of which are women, the majority being heads of households. Previously, to receive the loan, each entrepreneur had to receive extensive training on basic entrepreneurial skills. It is encouraging to note that to date, thanks to the constant follow-up of the entrepreneurs, the repayment rate by entrepreneurs is 98% with only 2% defaultsNamibia, micro credit, SMME
The Right to Health Care for Undocumented Migrants in Times of Economic Crisis. The EU Experience
No full text[Advantages and limitations of steroid contraception: considerations on 14 cases of post-pill amenorrhea observed by the author]
No full textAn assessment of the socio-economic impacts of communities’ relocations: A case of the Nkurenkuru peri-urban area, Kavango west region, Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Development StudiesAt a global level, the neglect of rural farming communities, spurred by insufficient
support and accelerated by urban expansion and land reform policies, has led to a surge
in significant community relocations. This phenomenon, trigger profound
socioeconomic impacts that disrupt communities' access to essential resources,
education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities. Amid this backdrop,
the study critically investigates the socioeconomic effects of relocation, particularly
focusing induced urban expansion on peri-urban communities in Nkurenkuru,
Namibia. The study used a qualitative research design, and face-to-face interviews
were carried out with 16 respondents who have experienced relocation in the area, and
four key informants from the constituency. This provided a well-rounded perspective
on the effects of relocation on households and the decision-making and
implementation processes surrounding it. The Livelihoods Framework theory was
used to interpret the findings, whereas thematic analysis was used to identify patterns
and generate themes from the qualitative data, thus aiding in the explanation of the
study's findings. The findings revealed that before relocation, the respective
community members were involved in a lot of socio-economic activities for their
livelihoods on the land such as crop and livestock farming. However, the relocation
led to worsened living conditions and reduced access to vital services, with a
significant drop in household income, financial stability, and food security being
experienced. Based on these findings, the study advises future urban planning
decisions to consider the potential socio-economic repercussions of relocation by
underscoring the importance of including communities and stakeholders in the
process. Recommendations are given for improved community engagement, wider
access to essential services, and inclusive stakeholder communication to ensure the
welfare of the affected communities. This study substantially adds to the
understanding of peri-urban relocation issues shedding light on the specific challenges
faced by these communities, thereby contributing to a comprehensive understanding
of the multifaceted dynamics of community relocations worldwide. The study
highlights a clear need for governments to recognise and address the numerous
negative effects associated with displacement, ranging from diminished living
conditions to a lack of access to essential service
Condizioni socioeconomiche e pandemia. Il caso del COVID-19 in Namibia
No full textIn the past, the spread of a pandemic has often overlapped and exacerbated its impact on the socio-economic conditions of the affected populations. When a significant contraction in economic activities occurred to contrast the epidemic, the result was a worsening of the gaps among social classes and an expansion of existing inequalities. Based on these assumptions, the article presents the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Namibia. Through the review of the existing literature and secondary sources, the relationship between the COVID-19 infection and the socio-economic conditions in the country was analyzed, concluding that, in order to have long-term effects and not to harm the more marginalized social classes, the measures put in place by the government should have been holistic, and aimed at combating both the biological factors of the pandemic and existing inequalities.
In the past, the spread of a pandemic has often overlapped and exacerbated its impact on the socio-economic conditions of the affected populations. When a significant contraction in economic activities occurred to contrast the epidemic, the result was a worsening of the gaps among social classes and an expansion of existing inequalities. Based on these assumptions, the article presents the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Namibia. Through the review of the existing literature and secondary sources, the relationship between the COVID-19 infection and the socio-economic conditions in the country was analyzed, concluding that, in order to have long-term effects and not to harm the more marginalized social classes, the measures put in place by the government should have been holistic, and aimed at combating both the biological factors of the pandemic and existing inequalities.
 
The 2000 SMALL BUSINESS BASELINE SURVEY
No full textExecutive summary The aim of the Baseline Survey was to generate information on the characteristics of entrepreneurs and enterprises in the Khomas region. It is necessary to stress, that Khomas region is very different from the other regions where the survey was previously conducted since it is an urbanised region with 90% of its constituency falling within the Windhoek city boundaries. The only other main centre being that of Dordabis, which, however does not have the status of a local authority For this reason the census was conducted mainly in the capital city. Information were collected in order to: •Establish the number and types of small and micro businesses; •Illustrate the characteristics of small and micro businesses; •Develop a database for measuring the impact of the SME policy and programmes; •Compare the results in Khomas with results obtained in Erongo and Otjozondjupa and in the four northern regions. The methodology applied was based on three questionnaires: •The first was presented to the local authority town clerk, it concerned to their policies towards SMEs. •The second was the census form for all businesses in a town. •The third was the survey questionnaire used for interviewing a sample of those businesses. A stratified random sample was drawn.The Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit undertook the surveys and analysed the data. The main findings of the Baseline survey can be summarised as follows: The local authority had a list of registered businesses by type. However, data on businesses was very limited and the majority of businesses in the location area were not registered. •The local authority still did not have an annual plan for the SME sector, although several activities were planned to support SME's. •Direct outsourcing activities to local firms were minimal (refuse removal), however a tender policy in order to favor local SME was in action. •Local authorities appeared to act in an enabling way towards SME's. •Very few Chambers of Commerce members were in the SME category. In the census a total of 5 359 small and micro businessesSMME, Namibia,
Deconstruyendo las narrativas existentes: una reevaluación crítica de las dinámicas de migración inducida por el clima en África y Namibia
No full textThis paper critically examines dominant narratives of climate and environmental migration in Africa, focusing on Namibia. It highlights the limitations of international definitions, which often frame mobility through crisis and displacement, obscuring local agency and adaptive practices. Drawing on mixed-methods fieldwork (2017-2023) in northern and central Namibia, through interviews, observations, and policy analysis, the study reveals that migration is shaped by the intersection of environmental stressors with socio-economic inequality, gender dynamics, and cultural traditions. In Namibia, seasonal and adaptive mobility patterns challenge deterministic crisis models, instead reflecting community resilience and strategic planning. Literature and policy reviews further show that rigid terms like climate refugee risk oversimplifyng complex drivers of movement. The study calls for a reframing of climate migration as a context-specific, adaptive strategy, and urges inclusive policies that integrate local knowledge and address underlying structural vulnerabilities. Migration should be seen as part of resilience-building, not just emergency response.Este artículo examina críticamente las narrativas dominantes sobre la migración climática y ambiental en África, con un enfoque particular en Namibia. Se pone de relieve las limitaciones de las definiciones internacionales, que suelen enmarcar la movilidad en términos de crisis y desplazamiento, oscureciendo así la agencia local y las prácticas adaptativas. A partir de un trabajo de campo de métodos mixtos (2017-2023) realizado en el norte y el centro de Namibia, incluyendo entrevistas, observación y análisis de políticas, el estudio demuestra que la migración está configurada por la intersección entre factores ambientales, desigualdad socioeconómica, dinámicas de género y tradiciones culturales. En Namibia, los patrones de movilidad estacional y adaptativa cuestionan los modelos deterministas centrados en la crisis, y reflejan en cambio la resiliencia comunitaria y la planificación estratégica. Asimismo, la literatura y el análisis de políticas muestran que términos rígidos como refugiado climático corren el riesgo de simplificar en exceso los complejos factores que impulsan la movilidad. El estudio propone replantear la migración climática como una estrategia adaptativa y contextualizada, y aboga por políticas inclusivas que integren el conocimiento local y aborden las vulnerabilidades estructurales subyacentes. La migración debe entenderse como parte de la construcción de resiliencia y no únicamente como una respuesta de emergencia
THE EUROMEDITERRANEAN FREE TRADE AREA: A NEW FORM OF REGIONAL COOPERATION?
No full textIn this paper the practicability of a free trade area has been examined. The classical Viner’s trade creation and trade diversion effects have been considered, and although they refer to a static analysis it can be shown that they still may lead to important conclusions in terms of welfare and trade. The dynamic effects have, however, also been considered being these that make the major contribution to the growth of a developing country. This analysis has been then applied to a concrete case, that of the participation of Morocco and Tunisia to the Euromediterranean free trade area (EMFTA). The aim is to assess whether the EMFTA is the right tool available to foster the economic growth of the non European Mediterranean countries. From the analysis it appears that alternative measures are needed in order to accomplish the goal of the co-development as stated in the Barcelona declaration. Strategic integration is the model identified in order to develop such measures.Development Cooperation , Trade diversion, Trade Creation, Euro-Mediterranean
SMME MODEL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AN EMPIRICAL CASE FOR THE NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA
No full textSouth Africa has been facing the double challenge of integrating into global markets as a competitive economy and of overcoming the internal problems created and constantly reinforced by the previous regime. To realize the objective of economic growth through competitiveness on the one hand and employment generation and income distribution on the other, the small business sector assumes a critical role. In order to be conducive to economic growth and employment creation, small business development has to be integrated into national industrial policies. The White Paper on the National Strategy for the development and promotion of Small Business in South Africa (1995) was an initial attempt to create an enabling environment for the creation of small, medium and micro enterprises. During the past few years the Department of Trade and Industry and its agency have undertaken a number of studies to assess the progress made in the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) sector. Reviews generally indicate that the SMME policy has not had the desired impact i.e. the creation of an environment conducive for a self- sustainable SMME sector. Amongst other things, one reason for such failure can be identified in the fact that despite the existence of the White Paper, the actions implemented have lacked a coherent and integrated approach resulting in the creation of several support structures for SMME, often not liked by one another and in competition with one another. This is particular evident at provincial level where in the years between the 1996-2001, with the support of national and provincial departments as well with the support of the private sector, a plethora of SMME server providers have been created, not taking in consideration the services already provided by existing Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) This situation has lead to poor performances by the service providers with the end result that those who were suppose to receive assistance were often left without the necessary support. The document is the result of a consultation process that saw a first draft being circulated amongst the relevant stakeholders in April 2003. This was followed by a presentation of the model at a provincial workshop held in Kimberley in June 2003, after which inputs were received and consultations undertaken with both national and provincial stakeholdersSMME, South Africa, micro credit, poverty alleviation
Human mobility and Namibian family transformation: an analysis of socio-economic development and family-migrant connections in contemporary Namibia
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in SociologyThe dissertation attempts to present migration from a holistic perspective where the decision to move is the result of an assessment of competing strategies open to potential migrants. This is a bid by globally marginalised populations for economic security; a deliberate decision taken by the family to improve their livelihood. Migrants are here seen as social actors, or agents, who confront structural socioeconomic contexts, which offer both constraints and opportunities. The migrants’ reflexive rational assessment of such limiting and enabling structures determines the decision-making process, and the subsequent behavioural outcomes. Namibia is
currently experiencing a high level of unemployment and underemployment across large portions of its population, and hence levels of poverty and inequality remain high, 26 years after independence from South Africa. Migrants now seek lifestyles,
work, income, welfare benefits, and the chance to aid family networks back home through the strategic axial advantage of the remittance system. This thesis critically utilised the structuration and agency theory as a contextual and conceptual means to make sense of Namibian migration, while at the same time focusing on the way in
which both financial and social remittances can modify the socio-economic status of the migrants’ families, providing empirical evidence from Namibia on the role that migration can have on local development. The epistemological design used emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, which combines economic and
sociological paradigms, to investigate the impact of internal migration on transforming the socio-economic structure of the Namibian family. These considerations were instrumental in the choice of Charmaz’s (2006, 2014), constructivist grounded theory version for the study. Using the grounded theory approach allowed the participants to express their own experiences related to the decision to migrate and to present their perspective on the consequences of such a
decision, while at the same time giving the participants and the researcher, the possibility of reflexively investigating on it. Internal migration appears to be a mix of specific coping strategies put in place by the family to face the socio-economic adversities, combined with the migrants’ personal motivations. The research found that individual aspiration to materially progress in life goes beyond mere economic
gratification. The moral sentiment of the migrant, out of a sense of responsibility for the family, and concern for the community (or country), is linked with the gratification and respect received by their family members, community and friends. Shifting the emphasis to the migrants’ personal motivations, as suggested in the thesis, provides an unconventional explanation of the drivers of migration compared
to the one presented by mainstream migration theories and doctrine. This research’s approach was found to provide a phenomenologically more meaningful and comprehensive understanding of the complexities (personal, familial, and community) of the migration challenges facing Namibians
