Prime Minister calls for wider participation in social development

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila called on non-state actors to join the government in coming up with programs to address social challenges faced by vulnerable members of society.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila made the call on Wednesday while officiating at a consultative workshop for the development of a vocational training and social development education program in Namibia.

The workshop is the brainchild of United Lutheran Theological Seminary Paulinum and Diaconia College of Finland.

They have come together to lead the process of developing an agenda to address social issues facing communities across the country, such as; family disintegration, poverty, unemployment, HIV and AIDS, gender-based violence, alcoholism and drug addiction through vocational and technical training.

According to the Covid-19 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of October 2020 in
Namibia, overall poverty is
is expected to increase by approximately 4.2% due to the loss of revenue. This will leave around 105,600 additional Namibians vulnerable and in dire need of social protection.

“Let us make every effort to rebuild our economy and regain the progress we have lost due to Covid-19. “As the saying goes, ‘a society is judged by how well it cares for its most vulnerable members’. Let us optimize this forum to integrate the issues and find a way forward to address the many challenges we face as a nation and as a global community,” she told delegates at the workshop which included Public Service Commission (PSC) employees and government officials.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also called on the public sector sphere to unite to address drug and alcohol abuse, gender-based violence, violence against children and other social ills that eat away at the social fabric.

She said churches have not only been an advocate for the social wellbeing of communities through the provision of evangelistic services, but they have also been a champion in advancing the physical wellbeing of communities through the provision of social services, such as health care. and education and training.

According to her, during the dark period of colonialism when indigenous communities were subjected to the worst forms of deprivation, the church was sometimes the only source of social services to the communities, as it well understood the link between physical well-being and spiritual and between human development through education, training and health and economic development.

“Most pioneers among black political and business leaders, civil society and academia are products of religious educational institutions,” she said.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said that in addition to legal and policy instruments aimed at promoting socio-economic development and combating crime, there is a need to also invest in family-friendly policy options and social service personnel. , for increased support for victims, to promote strong , happy and healthy families and communities, and to combat the erosion of the moral fiber of society.

However, she expressed her happiness that the program to be introduced will allow participants to provide professional services in this regard.

“I am also pleased that the aim of this degree in social development is to bridge the gap between conventional academic pursuit and vocational training, exposing participants to working with diverse people in an integrated way through family, community life and the social network, including economic and social well-being,” she said.