Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698750485498.pdf (Namibia)
Republic of Namibia MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITY, POVERTY ERADICATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE BUDGET MOTIVATION STATEMENT APPROPRIATION: FINANCIAL YEAR 2023 /2024 VOTE 36 PRESENTED BY HONOURABLE BERNADETTE MARIA JAGGER, MP DEPUTY MINISTER 3 April 2023 1 | P a g e Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee; Honourable Members: I rise to introduce and motivate the budget for Vote 36 to this August House for the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, for the 2023/24 Financial Year for support and approval.
Vote 36 budget appropriation for 2023/2024 Financial Year, amounts to N$6 482 120 000.00 (Six billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Namibia Dollars).

Let me wholeheartedly thank the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Honourable Iipumbu Shiimi, the Director General of the National Planning Commission Honourable Obed Kandjoze and their respective Teams for their kind consideration of this 2023/2024 Financial Year appropriation.
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee; Honourable Members: An amount of N$ 6 464 120 000.00 (Six Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-Four million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Namibia Dollars) has been allocated to Operational Budget, whilst an amount of N$ 18 000 000.00 (Eighteen million Namibia Dollars) is allocated to the Development Budget for the 2023/2024 Financial Year.
The Development Budget of the Ministry shall cater for renovation of Farm Kaukurus in Omaheke Region, Homes of Safety and Shelters, renovation and maintenance of the Namibia Children’s Home, construction of Community Empowerment Centres (CEC), as well as the construction and renovation of Regional and Constituency Offices.
Approval of the allocated budget of N$ 6 482 120 000.00 (Six billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Namibia Dollars), will be utilised towards the execution of the Ministerial mandate, which is to ensure gender equality, poverty eradication and socio-economic development of targeted categories especially the most needy and vulnerable 2 | P a g e members of our society which includes Women, Men, the Boy and Girl child, Marginalised Communities and People with Disabilities.
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee; Honourable Members: The Budget for the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare under Vote 36 for the 2023/2024 Financial Year has been allocated as follows: MAIN DIVISION 1: OFFICE OF THE MINISTER 1.1 The primary purpose of this programme is to provide political directives and to update Cabinet and Parliament on Ministerial policies and facilitate the coordination of functions and resources management.
1.2 A total amount of N$10 799 000.00 (Ten Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-nine Thousand Namibia Dollars is allocated to this Main Division, which caters for the expenditure in the Offices of the Minister and the three Deputy Minsters.
MAIN DIVISION 2: ADMINSTRATION AND GENERAL SERVICES 2.1 The primary purpose of programs under this Main Division is to provide efficient and effective administration and support services in Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources and Auxiliary Services to all the Main Divisions of the Ministry; and to ensure that the image and mandate of the Ministry is upheld and internal control systems are adhered to.
2.2 A total amount of N$ 208 432 000.00 (Two Hundred and Eight Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-two Thousand Namibian Dollars) is allocated to this Main Division which is inclusive of all the decentralized functions and activities of the Ministry.

3 | P a g e 3: GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN MAIN DIVISION EMPOWERMENT: 3.1 This program aims primarily to ensure the implementation of the National Gender Policy and its Plan of Action through the National Coordination Mechanism.
This includes Combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Male Engagement and Trafficking in Persons (TIP); to strengthen sectors to implement Gender Responsive Budgeting; developing and implementing Women Economic Empowerment Programs; Coaching and Mentoring women across political parties, public and private sectors on leadership skills, and monitoring the implementation of the National Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security.
3.2 The Ministry has reviewed and developed the National Gender Policy and its Plan of Action; finalised the Gender Responsive Budgeting Curriculum, and held validation workshops with stakeholders, including Members of this August House.

The National Plan of Action on Gender-Based Violence has been implemented by stakeholders through the GBV and the Human Rights Cluster.
The Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, popularized the use of the #EndGBV through the implementation of Nationhood and National Pride mass media campaign on Gender-Based Violence for which the Ministry remains grateful.

3.3 A total amount of N$ 28 639 000.00 (Twenty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand Namibia Dollars) is allocated to the programmes under this Main Division: Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.
4 | P a g e MAIN DIVISION 4: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ERADICATION 4.1 This Program aims primarily to improve support towards Income Generating Activities (IGAs), strengthen management of community development programmes which are geared towards the social and economic upliftment of all Namibians.
4.2 During the 2022/2023 Financial Year, a total number of Fifty-seven (57) (34 women and 23 men) beneficiaries were supported with materials and equipment to establish or expand their micro businesses through the Income- Generating Activities (IGAs) Support Programme.

4.3 While Seventy-eight (78) IGA beneficiaries (50 women and 28 men) have been trained on Start and Improve Your Business (IYB) Manuals.
In addition, Forty- five (45) beneficiaries were trained on technical and production skills: for example, bead-making, five (5), poultry farming, twenty-three (23), gardening, eight (8) and tailoring, nine (9) beneficiaries.

Furthermore, the Hardap Region Women in Business Association (WIBA) Seminar was held and the Regional WIBA Committee Members were duly elected.
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee; Honourable Members: 4.4 The number of children enrolled at Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres stood at Eighty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eight one (88 881) (45 770 females and 43 111 males) as at 31 March 2023.

The overall enrolment at ECD centres has increased to 15% compared to 10% for the 2021/22 Financial Year, which is primarily attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of the Ministry’s mandate to improve access to quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes and services, the Ministry provided monthly subsidies to One thousand, three hundred and seven (1307) ECD Edu-carers during the 2022/2023 financial year.
5 | P a g e A total amount of N$ 49 438 000.00 (Forty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Thirty- Eight Thousand Namibia Dollars) is allocated to this Main Division for the support and empowerment of community micro-businesses through the Income Generating Activities (IGA) programmes, Early Childhood Development (ECD) and provision of support in the form of monthly subsidies to Edu-carers and Personnel expenditure.
MAIN DIVISION 5: CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION SERVICES 5.1 The primary purpose of this Program is to improve care and protection for the well-being of children.

The Ministry has operationalized Eight (8) shelters for victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Violence Against Children (VAC), and Trafficking In Persons (TIP), in Eight (8) regions i.e.

Zambezi, Kavango East, Ohangwena, Omusati, Kunene, Khomas, Hardap and //Kharas that accommodated survivors and victims of GBV.
5.2 A total number of Three hundred and twenty-seven (327) victims were accommodated at the shelters during the period of April to December 2022.

Awareness campaigns on Gender Based Violence and Violence Against Children and Trafficking In Persons were conducted.

A number 5190 of people (including Children and Adults) were reached through awareness campaigns on how to prevent Gender Based Violence, Violence Against Children and Trafficking In Persons (TIP).
Private and Non-Governmental Organisations, Residential Child Care Facilities (RCCF) were subsidized by the Ministry to the amount of N$2.5 million to serve as Children’s Homes, Places of Care, and Shelters for GBV, VAC, and TIP victims.

A total number of Five hundred and ninety-three (593) Children were accommodated in the Residential Child Care Facilities.
5.3 Psychosocial support services (PSS) were provided to Four hundred and fifty-five (455) children at the Namibia Children's Home (NCH) and the After School Centre.

Ninety (90) Children from the Namibia Children's Home (NCH), Two hundred and fifteen (215) integrated into various schools and One hundred and fifty (150) participated in sports activities and After School Care.

At regional level, Social Workers provided Psychosocial Support 6 | P a g e Services (PSS) to a number of 1996 children.
The Psychosocial Support Services (PSS) includes counselling of children with behavioural problems, such as alcohol and drug abuse, emergency support, and HIV.

International and national days were commemorated and celebrated.

5.4 Social grants were provided to Three hundred and fifty-seven thousand and thirty-six (357 036) Orphans and Vulnerable Children who are currently on the grant system.
A total amount of N$ 1 386 344 000.00 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand Namibia Dollars) is allocated to this Main Division which includes programmes and activities aimed at the provision of Childcare and Protection Services, food rations for the Namibia Children’s Home and After School Centre as well as Personnel expenditure.
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee; Honourable Members: MAIN DIVISION 6: SOCIAL PROTECTION SERVICES 6.1 This Main Division is to ensure administration and timely payment of Social Grants and Funeral Benefits to eligible beneficiaries.

6.2 The Ministry administers a number of One hundred and ninety-nine thousand, six hundred and forty-nine (199 649) pensioners who are receiving Social grant representing a coverage of ninety-eight percent (98%) for old-age grant beneficiaries.
Furthermore, the Ministry managed to transform the Food Bank programme into the Conditional Basic Income Grant (CBIG) during the current Financial Year and a total of Eight thousand and forty-seven (8 047) households (37 053 individuals), received Conditional Basic Income Grant (CBIG) across all fourteen Regions, as part of the first phase of the implementation of Basic Income Grant to serve the urban and Peri-urban poor.
7 | P a g e 6.3 The Old-age grant was increased from One thousand and three hundred Namibia Dollars (N$1,300.

00) to One thousand and four hundred Namibia Dollars (N$ 1, 400.

00) per beneficiary while the Orphan and Vulnerable children grant was increased from two hundred and fifty Namibia Dollars (N$ 250.

00) to three hundred and fifty Namibia Dollars (N$ 350.00) during the Financial Year 2023/2024.
6.4 A total amount of N$ 3 663 196 000.00 (Three billion, six hundred and sixty- three million, one hundred and ninety-six thousand Namibia Dollars) is allocated to this Programme for the 2023/2024 Financial Year towards the provision of Social Grants to pensioners, Conditional Income Basic Grants to the former Food Bank beneficiaries, Funeral Cover for pensioners and Personnel expenditure.
MAIN DIVISION 7: DISABILITY AFFAIRS 7.1 The programmes and activities under this Main Division are aimed at ensuring improved livelihoods for Persons with Disabilities.

7.2 A total number of One hundred and forty-eight (148) students with disabilities were provided with financial support through the Student Grant Programme during the 2022/23 and 15 of those students will be graduating.
About One hundred and twenty (120) students are expected to benefit from this Programme during the current Financial Year 2023/2024.

7.3 The support includes tuition fees, accommodation, transport allowance, Sign language interpreters and assistive devices.

A number of Fifty thousand and two hundred and ninety-one (50 291) persons with disabilities were provided with Disability Grant.
The Ministry has further compiled and submitted a list of the Graduates to the Employment Equity Commission (EEC) for further transmission to the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.

8 | P a g e 7.4 In addition, the Ministry has supported Seven hundred and eight (708) persons with severe disabilities, mostly children with cerebral palsy by providing them with basic supplies such as nappies, formula milk, prep, bibs, sanitary pads and portable showers and toilets.
A total amount of Nine hundred and seventy-one million and nine hundred and twenty-two thousand Namibia Dollars (N$ 971 922 000.00) is budgeted to cover for expenditure of Social Grants for persons with Disabilities (Adults and Children).

7.5 The grant for Children with Disabilities under the age of 16 was increased from Two hundred and fifty Namibia Dollars (N$250) to One thousand three hundred Namibia Dollars (N$ 1300).
7.6 A total amount of N$ 33 695 000.00 (Thirty-Three Million, Six Hundred Ninety-Five Thousand Namibia Dollars) is allocated to this Main Division for 2022/2023 Financial Year, inclusive of financial support to students with disabilities at Tertiary Institutions, provision of basic commodities to persons with severe disabilities, personnel expenditure and subsidy to the National Disability Council of Namibia.
MAIN DIVISION 8: POLICY, PLANNING AND RESEARCH 8.1 The primary aim of this Main Division is to review progress on the implementation of programmes, undertake ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and to design the coordination mechanism of the programmes across all Offices/Ministries/Agencies (OMAs) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

The Main Division is also responsible for coordinating the capital projects of the Ministry.
The Ministry has under this Main Division, developed and rolled out an Integrated Social Assistance System (ISAS), as part of the harmonization and coordination of social protection services.

8.2 A total amount of N$ 28 735 000.00 (Twenty-Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand Namibian Dollars is allocated to this Main Division for the 2023/2024 Financial Year for the coordination of Ministerial programmes pertaining to Policy and Research.
This amount includes an 9 | P a g e amount of N$18 000 000.00 (Eighteen Million Namibian Dollars) allocated to cater for Capital Projects.

MAIN DIVISION 9: MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES 9.1 The programmes and activities under this Main Division are aimed at ensuring improved and sustained livelihoods of Marginalised Communities and to ensure that they are taken up into the mainstream society.
learners from 9.2 During the 2022/2023 Financial Year, a number of Two thousand eight the Marginalised hundred and ninety-three (2 893) Communities were enrolled at different Primary and Secondary schools in various Regions, and are being assisted with transportation as part of the Education Support Programme.

This number has increased to Two thousand nine hundred and seventy-three (2 973) learners in the current Financial Year.
Additionally, Two Hundred and Forty (240) students registered at various Institutions of Higher Learning and are being assisted with the full payments of Tuition and Accommodation fees as well as monthly living allowances.
9.3 In order to implement programmes and projects for Marginalized Communities, an amount of Eighty-two thousand seven hundred and twenty-four Namibia Dollars (N$ 82 724 000.00) has been allocated for the 2023/2024 financial year to cover expenditures in respect of Education Support to Marginalized students, livelihood Support, Funeral Services and the San Feeding Programme.
9.4 A total number of Twenty-nine thousand and four (29 004) households of Marginalized Communities are currently benefitting from the Special Feeding Programme, where food items are provided.

A total amount of N$ 100 921 000.00 (One Hundred Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand Namibia Dollars) has been allocated to this Main Division for the 2023/2024 Financial Year, for the implementation of programmes for the Marginalized Communities, inclusive of personnel expenditure.
10 | P a g e Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Honourable Members: Allow me now at this juncture to thank the Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Honourable Doreen Sioka, my two colleagues; Honourable Alexia Manombe-Ncube and Honourable Royal /Ui/o/oo, the Executive Management led by the Executive Director Ms. Martha Mbombo, and her dedicated Team of staff members at the National Headquarters and those in the Regions for their continuous commitment and dedication to serve the targeted categories namely, the most needy and vulnerable members of our society.
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole Committee; Honourable Members: It is now my honour to present to this August House the expenditure of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare under Vote 36 for the Financial Year 2023/2024 which amounts to N$6 482 120 000.00 (Six Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Namibia Dollars) for your kind consideration and approval.

I THANK YOU!

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