Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698745385668.pdf (Namibia)
Programme context The need to respond to the socio- economic challenges and development priorities in Namibia The need to strengthen governance institutions and practices for enhancing citizens’ participation, with a focus on policy oversight and implementation The need to facilitate participation and partnerships among stakeholders to ensure buy-in and commitment to national development e m m a r g o r P N D P E 01 02 03 “Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia” (EPDN), Partnership Programme of the Government of the Republic a of Namibia and the European Union EUROPEAID/139-435/DH/SER/NA, Ref.
No.

NL2410-35598 EPDN Programme Background The ‘Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia’ (EPDN) Programme is implemented in the framework of development cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and the to Namibia.

Financed under the 11thEuropean Development Fund Delegation of (EDF), the Contract for the Programme started in July 2020 and will last for ﬁve years until June 2025.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic related restrictions, the actual operation of the Programme started in November 2020. the European Union challenges and development priorities in The Programme is designed as a demand-driven intervention to enable responses to the socio- Namibia, in the framework of its constitutional economic provisions, national development policies Namibia The Programme is based on recognition of the need to strengthen governance institutions has signed.
and practices for enhancing citizen’s participation, with a focus on programme implementation.
and continental and global developmental oversight of policy and agendas Objectives and expected results collaboration and coordination between Parliament, Civil Society Organisations The objective of the Programme is to contribute to national development goals, through the and strengthening of other Government bodies in the implementation and oversight of public policies and programmes, thereby enhancing participatory democracy in Namibia.
Three distinct but interlinked results are expected to be achieved by the Programme: 1) Civil Society Organisations and Parliament have increased capacity to collaborate and coordinate in the oversight of public policies and programmes; 2) Civil Society Organisations and Government have increased capacity to collaborate and coordinate in implementation of public policies and programmes, in particular, but not restricted to, the sectors of the education among key stakeholders and the general public about this project and overall programme ‘Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia’ is enhanced.
and skills and rural development; and 3) Awareness Key Activities The key activities of the Programme include, but not limited to: 1) Undertaking dialogue and collaboration between Civil Society and Parliament, with special attention to women and minorities, on policy and programme oversight at national and regional levels; 2) Increased involvement of Civil Society in the budget development process through enhanced engagement with Parliament; 3) Enhancing public awareness of and access to Parliamentary activities and policy debate; 4) Assisting Government in the implementation of the Civic Organisations Partnership Policy (COPP); 5) Providing support and advice to grant beneﬁciaries in narrative and ﬁnancial reporting; 6) Conducting awareness raising activities to key stakeholders and the general public focusing on engagement, lesson learning and sharing of knowledge Enhancing Parcipaȁtory Democracy in Namibia (EPDN) Programme for enhancing participatory democracy in Namibia; 7) Undertaking analyses of the state of Civil Society in Namibia including the state of the enabling environment for Civil Society and participation of Civil public policies and programmes; 8) Providing capacity development support to Programme Society in stakeholders and 9) Conducting relevant studies and researches on cross-cutting issues such as gender, environment, rights-based approaches, good governance and inclusive development, human rights, participatory budgeting, partnerships, policy analysis and dialogue, etc.
Grant project activities under the Programme are implemented by the following Civil Society Organisations: 1) Regain Trust (RT) on ‘Strengthening CSOs Participation in the Education and Life Skills Sectors’; 2) Development Workshop Namibia (DWN) on ‘Improving Sanitation in Informal Settlements and Containing the Spread of Hepatitis E’; 3) Hanns Seidel Stiftung (HSS) and Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) on ‘Promotion of Sustainable Forest Management’; 4) Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation Trust (IRDNCT) and Namibia Development Trust (NDT) on ‘Strengthening Participation of Conservancies in CBNRM Policies and Programmes’ and 5) Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) on ‘Strengthening Community-based Natural Resource Management’.
Key Stakeholders The National Planning Commission is the main Client of the Programme, acting on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Namibia.

The key target groups and beneﬁciaries of the Programme are the Parliament (both the National Assembly and the National Council) and the diverse Civil Society in Namibia.

A Programme Manager at the Parliament coordinates the technical Organisations implementation of the Programme.
Various Government Ministries, Oﬃces and Agencies are also involved in the Programme.

Beyond ﬁnancing, the European Union Delegation to Namibia acts as a key partner to the Programme.

Management Structure A Programme Steering Committee (PSC), chaired by the National Planning Commission, provides strategic guidance and key decisions for the Programme.

The PSC’s membership includes the National Assembly, National Council and three representatives of Civil Society Organisations in Namibia with voting right.
The European Union participates with a non-voting status.

Key Government OMAs and other international development partners also participate on ad-hoc basis.

The Technical assistance Unit provides secretariat service to the PSC.
Overall Objecve: To strengthen collaboraon ̀ and coordinaon between Parliament, Civil Society Organisaons and ̀ Government bodies in the implementaon and oversight of public policies and programmes Duraon: July 2020 – June 2025 Funding: EUR 6 Million (11th European Development EDF) Fund -