The Namibia Rural Women\’s Assembly held a national workshop in Otjiwarongo Otjozondjupa Region. The workshop attendees were the steering committee members with one young woman from each of the 14 regions. The issues of male engagement through a new concept called gender intelligence was stressed, if women and girl’s empowerment can be pursued effectively and efficiently for sustainable development. If male engagement is neglected it will allow gender-based violence to persist as males will continue to feel neglected, rejected and will maintain hostility between males and females.

The key concern was how to ensure women\’s participation through partnership collaboration, and participants were encouraged to come up with specific actions in their gender advocacy plans.

Definition, principles, steps, and strategies of gender advocacy was presented and discussed, a framework for action planning was presented in terms of stating the regional vulnerability level, gender advocacy theme, participants were advised to identify relevant objectives, strategies from the Food Security Policy (2020) and to define their solutions, activities and who to targe to and who to partner with.

Through brainstorming session, the issue of meaningful women’s participation was discussed and following actions were recommended

Namibia’s Climate Change Policies and Projects

Understanding the concepts of climate change, its causes, challenges Namibia is facing and options to restore the natural environment and improve people’s livelihoods.

Namibia’s vulnerability to climate change was presented and how the government and its partners are addressing through various interventions. An overview of the EBA project and its Gender Action Plan, as well as the EIF opportunities available for NRWA to benefit from. 

The key concern was how to ensure women’s participation through partnership collaboration, and participants were encouraged to come up with specific actions in their gender advocacy plans.