New Era

WINDHOEK â€" The National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Delegation of the European Union are meeting outside the usual office context to reflect on the achievements of their partnership and strategize on how best to address the challenges of the year ahead.

The theme of this year's gathering, which began yesterday and ends today, is "Enhancing Cooperation in the Service of Namibian Development Goals".

The objective is to bring together staff members to interact with one another, discuss issues of importance and map the way forward for the effective execution and implementation of the mandate of both the delegation and the NPC under the Cotonou partnership.

The unique character of this partnership between ACP (African, Caribbean, Pacific) countries and the EU, which Namibia joined at independence, includes economic/trade, political and development dimensions.

It also involves the joint management of resources from the European Development Fund (EDF).

In that context, the Director General (DG) of the NPC Dr Peter Katjavivi has the role of the National Authorising Officer (NAO) in Namibia.

It is the second year that the retreat, which confirms the determination of both parties to transform the commitment towards aid effectiveness indicated in the Paris Declaration in 2003 and in the Accra Action Agenda (AAA), takes place.

The retreat reinforces the joint responsibility of the Delegation and the NPC Secretariat for the implementation of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme (CSP/NIP) for Namibia.

The CSP/NIP was officially launched in April 2008 and provides the framework for assistance to the tune of N$1.05 billion for the period 2008-2013.

A Mid-Term Review, which included extensive consultations with stakeholders, took place in the country last year and is currently assessed by Head Quarter Services.

At the retreat, NPC and the EU Delegation are to reflect on the process and lessons learned from the Mid-Term Review.

Overall, the Mid-Term Review concluded that by focusing on education, water and sanitation, and rural development as well as economic and democratic governance and capacity building of non-state actors, the EU's strategy remains of high relevance to Namibia's efforts in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and for the key priorities identified in the National Development Plan (NDP) 3.

NPC and the EU delegation will discuss the need to revise the Government's Governance Action Plan (GAP).

Following last year's floods, Namibia already conducted a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) in which also European Union experts participated.

The PDNA estimated financing requirements of a "Building Back Better" programme at N$2.7 billion, to be funded partially by Government and partially by existing or new external assistance.

As part of the Mid-Term Review of the 10th EDF CSP/NIP, an adjustment is foreseen in the area of rural development which will include a project to increase productivity in traditional crop production in the northern areas, contributing also to food security and dealing with the consequences of climate change.

The retreat kicked off with a presentation by NPC on Namibia's efforts to achieve the MDGs and progress against the targets laid down in the National Development Plan (NDP) 3.

In some sessions, special attention will be paid to governance aspects, dialogue with civil society, the importance of climate change and opportunities for investments and projects that promote regional economic integration.

The second day of the retreat (today) will focus on aid effectiveness and ways to improve co-operation between NPC, the EU Delegation, EU member states as well as other development partners.

Case studies will be presented on how the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness has been applied in the education, and water and sanitation, sectors.

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