Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698752377669.pdf (Namibia)
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA 2017/18 BUDGET MOTIVATION SPEECH APPROPRIATION VOTE 12 MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITY AND CHILD WELFARE 2017/18 FINANCIAL YEAR BY HONOURABLE DOREEN SIOKA, (MP) 13 APRIL 2017 l/Page Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members, It is my distinct honour and privilege to present to this august House the budget allocation for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Vote 12 for the 2017/18 financial year.
Let me at the onset, express a vote of appreciation to the Minister of Finance Comrade Calle Schlettwein and Hon.

Tom Alweendo Minister of Economic Planning and Director General of NPC and their teams for the consultative process, that went into the preparations of not just the national budget, but also the development of NDPS.
We further appreciate the fact that the allocation of financial resources to the various O/M/A's, state owned enterprises and / or projects of national interest required a serious and magical balancing act, as it was done in a challenging fiscal and economic environment.

Despite these challenges, the focus remained on our national developmental priorities and contributes towards eradication of poverty and the improvement of social welfare.
The one of particular interest to our Ministry is the improved coverage in respect of OVCs to keep them above poverty line.

21Page This is the year of rededication and my Ministry is ready to head the call of His Excellency the President Comrade Dr Hage Geingob.
Honourable chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members A total amount of N$ 1 297 444 000.00 (One billion, Two hundred ninety seven million, four hundred and forty four thousand) is allocated to our Ministry for the 2017/18 financial year.
Out of that amount, N$ 1 289 284, 000.00 (One billion, two hundred eighty nine million, two hundred and eighty four thousand) is allocated for operational budget while N$ 8 160000.00 (Eight Million, one hundred and sixty thousand) is allocated for development budget.

Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members Kindly allow me to dwell into the details of our programmes and their respective allocations: PROGRAMME 1.
POLICYSUPERVISION AND SUPPORT SERVICES 1 The purpose of this program is to provide: • Administration support services, 31Page • Ensure efficient and effective service delivery, • Mainstream HIV/AIDS programs for staff members within the Ministry, • Strengthen coordination and networking at all levels, • Promote ICT usage and access, improve staff competence, • Facilitate the development and acquisition of specialized skilled staff, • Budget planning and control and construction, renovation and • Maintenance of offices of the Ministry.
1.2 During the beginning of the financial year 2016/2017, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare received a total budget of N$ 4 242 OOO.OO} four million, two hundred and Fourty-two thousand for capital projects.

This budget was used to implement the following projects: • Partial renovations and maintenance of Namibia Children's Home - Khomas Region in Eros; • Construction of Nkurenkuru Community Empowerment Centre - in Kavango West region - Nkurenkuru Constituency.
Feasibility study was completed and approved as planned.

41Page • Renovation of the main hall, the gym hall and administration block of the After Care Centre in Khomas Region, Khomasdal Constituency; • Renovation and Construction of Ministerial Headquarters- Juvenis Building- the retention payment was done to contractor; • Feasibility study completed on the construction of Transitional Training Center in Windhoek.
During this financial year 2017/18 the amount of N$ 105 413 000.00 (one hundred and five million, four hundred and thirteen thousand Namibia Dollars) is allocated to this programme inclusive of capital projects and personnel expenditure.

Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members PROGRAMME 2.
CAREAND PROTECTIONOF CHILDREN: 2.1 This programme is about: • Providing social welfare grants to orphans and vulnerable children, • Providing subsidies to Residential Child Care Facilities, • Managing shelters for the abused women, men and children, 5lPage • Managing the operations of the Namibian Children's Home and After School Centre, • Implementation of policies, standards and guidelines, provision of professional services and • Monitoring and evaluation of the child welfare programs.
2.2 The Ministry is taking care and protecting Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) under the age of 18 years due to conditions such as, the effects of HIV/ AI DS, and general vulnerability.

These interventions are aimed at assisting our children to develop into confident and productive citizens as they grow up and realize their full potential as citizens of this beautiful country.
2.3 An amount N$ 963 934 000.00 (Nine hundred, sixty three million, nine hundred and thirty four thousand Namibian Dollars) which represents 75% (Seventy five percent) of the Ministry's operational budget is earmarked for the Children Grants for 2017/2018 Financial year.
2.4 While an amount of N$ 21 450 000.00 (twenty one million, four hundred and fifty thousand Namibian Dollars) is budgeted to support and provide subsidies to Residential Child Care Facilities 61Page and to provide different alternative care such as foster care, adoption, place of safety and residential child care, Shelters for children and families.

This is also the same allocation that we utilise for services and interventions targeted at children on the streets.
2.5 A total amount of N$ 1071418 000.00 (one billion seventy one million, four hundred eighteen thousand Namibian Dollars) is allocated for these programmes inclusive of personnel expenditure financial year 2017/2018.

2.6 I am delighted to inform this August house that 285 431 (two hundred, eighty five thousand and four hundred and thirty) children (of which 148,842 are girls, and 136,589 are boys) received grants during 2016/2017 financial year.
This is significant increase from the 2015/2016 where only 204 161 children were covered.

2.7 During financial year 2016/2017, an amount of N$714, 202430.00 (seven hundred and fourteen million, two hundred and two thousand, four hundred and thirty Namibian Dollars) was spent for these programmes which included grants and subsidies to Residential Child Care Facilities.
71Paue /:) 2.8 I am also glad to inform the house that the Child Care and Protection Act provide an enabling environment for the care and protection of children in Namibia, which will be in line with the international standards which Namibia ratified.

Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members PROGRAMME 3.
SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT: 3.1 This programme aim to: • Facilitate socio-economic empowerment of rural and needy urban communities, • Strengthen management and implementation of community empowerment programs as well as • Promote access and improve management of early childhood development.
3.2 Under this programme, a total amount of N$ 8 579000.00 (eight million, five hundred and seventy nine Namibian Dollars) is budgeted to provide support to Women in Business, IGA's and empowerment of Community at large.

This is achieved by mobilizing communities to engage in activities that uplift their living standards 81Page and contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods.
Through mobilization, community members are also motivated to partake in income generating activities (IGAs) with greater potentials to create self-employment and employment of others.

3.3 During 2016/ 2017 the Ministry developed Operational Guidelines for Income Generating Activities (IGAs).

The developed Operational Guidelines will serve as a guiding tool for implementing and coordinating the activities of Community Empowerment by the Ministry and other stakeholders in the country.
3.4 The Ministry also embarked on Income Generating Activities (IGAs) skills training program offered to IGAs beneficiaries at Community Empowerment Centres through COSDECto offer training to adult community members.

The programme is designed to support and strengthen the capacity for community members in particular IGA beneficiaries to produce quality marketable products that they can sell and earn income.
IGA beneficiaries are also trained in basic business management skills so that they can successfully manage their businesses.

91Page 3.5 An amount of N$ 28 246 000.00 (twenty eight million, two hundred forty six thousand Namibian Dollars) is earmarked for Early Childhood Development for 2017/2018 Financial Year.

To get the maximum return, investment in human capital should start in the early years of life.
In this regard efforts will be put in place to increase access to quality early childhood development.

3.6 The current enrolment of children in ECDcenters stands at 74,061 (seventy four thousand, and sixty one) of which 37,855 are girls and 36,206 are boys nationwide.

3.7 The Ministry introduced the provision of subsidies (monthly allowance) to educarers (kindergarten teachers) providing care and education to young children at community-based early childhood development centres (kindergartens).
Provision of subsidies serves as incentives for educarers to provide quality programmes and services to children in order to prepare them for their future learning and lay a strong education foundation so that children develop to their full potentials.

10IPaue "" 3.8 A total number of 1002 educarers are currently receiving monthly allowances ranging from N$l 500.00 to N$ 3 000.00 based on their level of education.

An amount of N$ 18 618 000.00 has been spent on monthly subsidies for educarers.
The Ministry anticipates to increase the number of educarers receiving subsidies by adding two (2) educarers from each constituency.

This will bring a total numbers of educarers receiving subsidies to 1244.

An amount of N$ 24072 000.00 has been earmarked for 2017/18.

3.9 The programmes narrated above contribute to the Social Progression Pillar of the Harambee Prosperity Plan as they are all aimed at poverty reduction and improvement of the livelihoods of grassroots communities.
3.10 A total amount of N$ 78 609 000.00 (Seventy eight million, six hundred and nine Thousand Namibian Dollars) is allocated to this programme for 2017/18 Financial Year inclusive of remuneration and conditions of services.

IllPa e Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members PROGRAMME 4.

PROMOTION OF GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN: 4.1 Gender equality is reckoned worldwide to be a pre-requisite for sustainable development.
Therefore the environment for equal participation of both men and women in politics and decision making must be created.

4.2 The Ministry has been conducting coaching sessions for women in politics to promote a holistic empowerment of women in political leadership and decision making especially in Parliament, Political Parties and in Regional Councils and Local Authorities.

We are looking forward to an improved women representation going forward.
121 P age 4.3 In 2016, the Ministry ensured that the Regional Gender Permanent Task Force of the National Gender Coordination Mechanism for the Implementation of the revised National Gender Policy (2010-2020) and its Plans of Action was established and operational in all regions.

4.4 In adherence to the Namibia GRB Guidelines, a gender analysis was done in the 10 ministries to review and analyze 2016/17 Financial Year to assess the progress made since the introduction of gender responsive budgeting.
The purpose was to identify gender inequality and to design specific interventions in policies, plans and budgets to address the critical gender gaps and imbalances; and eventually to implementing the GRBguidelines and contribute to better utilisation of the country's human and financial resources.

4.5 Gender Based Violence (GBV) remains a national concern.
However, the Ministry with its stakeholders has committed itself to combat and work towards the eradication of all forms of GBV by creating awareness throughout the nation, popularising gender related laws, targeting traditional leaders, the community members, faith based organisations, youth in and out of school.

131Pdge 4.6 In addition the Zero tolerance media campaign on GBV is still going on.
16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is being commemorated in all regions with a purpose to intensify the awareness campaign on GBV.

4.7 The Ministry spearheaded and coordinated the drafting of Combating Trafficking in Persons Bill (TIP Bill) which will be soon tabled in Parliament.

Besides these achievements, the Ministry faced numerous challenges such as persistent gender inequality, incidences of gender based violence, under representation of women in decision making.
For 2017/2018 the Ministry will be working towards strengthening the above initiatives and in order to ensure gender equality and address challenges experienced.

A total amount of N$ 42 004000.00 (Forty two Million and four thousand Namibian Dollars) is allocated to this programme for 2017/18FY for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment inclusive of personnel costs.

141Page Honourable Chairperson of the Whole Committee Honourable Members In Summary: Vote 12 MGECW Programme Amount (N$'OOOO) 1.
Policy Supervision and Support Services 2.

Care and Protection of Children 3.

Community and Early Child Development N$ 105 413 000 ( One Hundred and Five Million, Four Hundred and Thirteen Thousand Namibian Dollars) N$ 1 071 418 000 (One Billion Seventy One Million, Four Hundred Eighteen Thousand Namibian Dollars hood N$ 78 609 000 (Seventy Eight, Six Hundred and Nine Thousand Namibian Dollars) of N$ 42 004 000 (Fourty Two 4.
Gender Equality and Empowerment Women TOTAL Million and Four Thousand Namibian Dollars N$ 1297444000 In light of the outlined programmes / I now humbly request this august house to approve the budget allocated to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare under vote 12 an amount of N$1297 444 000.00 (One billion, Two hundred ninety seven million, four hundred and forty four Thousand) for the financial year 2017/18.
151 Pa ere b Let us all work together to stop Gender Based Violence and make Namibia a safe place for all, raise and support our children in such a way that they become responsible and valuable members of our society.

I THANK YOU!

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