NAMIBIAN-GERMAN SPECIAL INITIATIVE PROGRAMME (NGSIP)
About NGSIP
The Namibian-German Special Initiative Programme (NGSIP) was conceptualized and designed by the Government of the Republic of Namibia in 2006. H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba instructed then Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Libertina Amadhila, to consult communities that had suffered during the German colonial period on how best to utilize a sum of Euros 20 million (then approximately N$ 200 million) which the German Government had granted towards improving the social and economic living programme design conditions of those communities.
Honorable Peter Katjavivi, MP – Namibian Parliament, H.E. Onno Huckmann, German Ambassador to Namibia, and Ms Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, MP – German Parliament, with beneficiaries of NGSIP goats, Otjimbingwe, Karibib Constituency, Erongo region
The result was a uniquely participatory rural development programme with more than 200 small and medium scale projects identified and managed by the selected communities. These communities are amongst the most disadvantaged in the country in terms of access to economic and social welfare resources. They are located in 24 Constituencies of the 7 regions of Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa. Communities were able to select projects in any economic and social development sector according to their own assessment of priorities.
The implementation of the NGSIP is undertaken by National Planning Commission (NPC) which has formed a program management team for this purpose. The German Development Bank, KfW, finances the programme on behalf of the German government. In addition, NPC has selected technical advisors that were charged with the preparation and implementation process of the projects.
Phase 1 of the Programme commenced in 2008 and included 40 borehole rehabilitation projects and 10 agricultural projects. For phase 2, launched in April 2011, funding to the amount of approximately N$ 146 million was made available for project investments.
To make up for project budget short-falls, due to inflation losses and initial under-budgeting, and hence to enable commitments to implement projects, as initially approved in the 2007 Feasibility Report, to be honoured, the German Government granted additional Euro 11 million for the Programme. Formal inter-governmental agreements making these funds available were signed in June 2013. The implementation phase of the Programme is due to be completed at the end of October 2014. Click here to read more....