RCE Khomas-Erongo-2014
a) Criteria/ indicators used to assess aspects of RCE work/ project: Character count 300 words:
The evaluation was conducted in the period May – June 2014. The evaluation process involved all active stakeholders within the RCE at the time of evaluation. It is recognized that some RCE members that were originally involved in the start-up has not been part of this evaluation, since their involvement in the RCE has decreased or ceased. However, since the Khomas-Erongo region does not have a fixed membership and operates on an open system where members can participate or withdraw at any time this evaluation still reflects the situation of the RCE during the past 3 years. Most of the members of the RCE who joint at the start are still active.
The steering committee did the organization and facilitation of the evaluation, while members of the RCE actively contributed to providing evidence and reports on activities they were involved in as well as providing feedback on challenges and shortcoming experienced by the RCE. The following tools were applied during the evaluation: RCE meetings, questionnaires, email and information was also obtained from a few projects that were published on the RCE Khomas-Erongo website.
Indicators included: Coordination and networking; Governance; Achievements and development of the RCE;transformation and sustainability; relationship with regional and global RCE community.
The steering committee did the organization and facilitation of the evaluation, while members of the RCE actively contributed to providing evidence and reports on activities they were involved in as well as providing feedback on challenges and shortcoming experienced by the RCE. The following tools were applied during the evaluation: RCE meetings, questionnaires, email and information was also obtained from a few projects that were published on the RCE Khomas-Erongo website.
Indicators included: Coordination and networking; Governance; Achievements and development of the RCE;transformation and sustainability; relationship with regional and global RCE community.
b) Successes of the RCE and lessons learned: Character count 300 words:
The achievements of the RCE can be summarized as follow:
Achievements during First 12 month period after RCE status was obtained (2012)
- Several projects that involved youth in formal education e.g. Green Environmental Project,
Project Shine, Creative (recycling) Competition, Gobabeb outdoor learning
- A curriculum for a Master in Education in ESD has been designed
- Awareness raising in out-of school youth and informal settlements – contacts were made and partners involved from the community as well as from the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture
Achievements after 24 month period (2013)
- Workshop for Teachers on ESD was held in collaboration with RCE from Sweden
- Curriculum for MEd in ESD has been submitted for approval to University authorities
- Several projects for out-of-school youth such as the mobile learning project
- Several awareness programmes e.g. Coastal Biodiversity week, Production of festive season flyers, initiation of Ecotourism awareness project in Swakopmund
- Research on improving water quality of surface and drinking water in Windhoek – research started – first publication produced
Achievements after 36 month period (2014)
- ECOMATE project and certification started
- Project Shine charter released and project initiated
- National survey of ESD and Disaster risk management activities and gaps analysis performed
- Research on improving water quality of surface and drinking water in Windhoek – research continued – second publication produced
- The Green Environment Project initiated
3.4 Projects and their effects
Thus far there has been no portfolio compiled and published to capture all research that was done within the RCE Khomas-Erongo. Research is done, but can be more extensive.
Various projects were undertaken and some are on-going. These projects significantly contributed to an increased awareness of the youth in formal, informal education and out-of –school youth, as well as of the general public about environmental issues. The projects also addressed other aspects of ESD such as empowering people with skills and knowledge. Several learners were trained and out-of school youth were provided with skills that will allow them to become entrepreneurs. Some of the RCE projects involved research that assisted in the improvement of water quality and management as well as the training of educators in climate change, ESD and disaster risk reduction. A few of the projects were in collaboration with other RCEs and countries such as Sweden and Finland. The coastal Biodiversity week was a successful collaboration among RCE members with other local stakeholders from outside the RCE.
The following projects are some of the successful projects within the RCE Khomas-Erongo region:
i. Mobile learning for out of school youth
Objective: Provide training and skills to out-of-school youth that will enable them to be self-employed and be aware of ESD.
Activities: Provide training courses via mobile learning for mushroom cultivation, ESD, building and using energy efficient stoves, producing fireballs from recycled material, efficient use of water and entrepreneurship.
ii. Green Environmental Project – Erongo region
Objective: The project aims to implement environmental sustainability within the Swakopmund community through environmental education and eco-tourism. To promote Swakopmund as the first sustainable city in Namibia. Encourage an environmental friendly behaviour amongst organizations, schools and the local community at large. To develop and support a peer to peer learning environment, where youths can teach each other through workshops for skill building, and developing environmental projects and promoting sustainable tourism within Swakopmund. The specific objectives are:
• Unite all school environmental clubs
• Promote school gardening
• Celebrate international and national environmental days
• Co-ordinate various environmental activities in school
• Raise environmental awareness within Swakopmund
• Promote partnership with local organizations
Activities:Green Environmental Project seminar involving schools and private organizations; Arbor day celebrations; Adventure travel world summit clean-up day; anti-littering campaign.
iii. Project Shine – Erongo region
Objectives: To minimize the negative effects of pollutants in the environment; Promote awareness among participating organizations and the sponsor’s towards environmental conservation; To promote and support local recycling operators; To emphasis the economic value of waste; To remove all glass bottles and glass fragments amongst other pollutants along the main road from Swakopmund and 40km towards Arandis; To involve members of the community through non-profit organizations such as churches, schools and sport clubs.
Activities: Creative recycling competition; clean-up campaigns involving local communities and businesses
iv. Water research with Municipality of Windhoek
Objectives: To improve water quality provided by the City of Windhoek through reclamation of wastewater for drinking water.
Activities: Research was performed to establish the potential hazards that may be posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals present in domestic wastewater and to establish a bio-monitoring system to monitor these emerging chemicals in the wastewater. Research was also performed to establish the causes for sludge bulking within the wastewater treatment plant that compromise on quality of effluent provided for reclamation to supply drinking water to the City of Windhoek.
v. Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development (CCESD)
Objectives: Inform the training of stakeholders on climate change, ESD and disaster risk reduction.
Activities: Performed a National needs assessment and gap analysis of CCESD within Namibia. Research was performed and a report with recommendations was produced.
vi. ESD – Swakopmund
Objectives: This is a partnership between the RCE Khomas-Erongo and the RCE Malmo (Sweden). It involves two projects; one on solar energy and one on waste.
Activities: Project on solar energy:The situational analysis was done on energy and the implementation of solar system energy was identified. This yielded results in a wide spread knowledge regarding the installation of solar panels. The solar installations have been built by trainees from less affluent areas in Swakopmund, trained by a Swedish solar expert. Since the solar panels are working well by producing hot water for the community, among other things, the Municipality and private operators are planning for more solar installations.
ESD: The Gobabeb Centre, in collaboration with its partner institute, the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, has embarked on an innovative project to enhance access to information and knowledge on Education for Sustainable Development in our region. All leaners in Swakopmund have an opportunity to visit this center for outdoor education activity. Other ESD activities involved teaching learners how to build CD racks to grow algae for aquaria and how to build solar cookers.
vii. Coastal Biodiversity week
Objectives: The Coastal Biodiversity Weeks are particularly organized closer to the celebration of international environmental days, such as the World Environment Day (5th June), the World Oceans Day (8th June), the International Coastal Clean-up Day (September) and the Rhino Day (22nd September). Such days are then celebrated jointly with normal days, and different activities take place. The main is to increase the level of awareness on the importance of taking care for the environment among the coastal stakeholders.
Activities: The activities for the Coastal Biodiversity Weeks include: competitions, summits and conferences, environmental tours, prize giving ceremonies, presentations to schools and to the public, educational tours, screening of environmental films, youth environmental contests (Mr & Miss COASTODIAN), Gala dinners, bird watching events and clean-ups.
viii. Eco-certification
Objectives: Encourage an environmental friendly behaviour amongst organizations, schools and the local community at large. To use the project logo as a trademark to promote sustainable development in Swakopmund.
Activities: Provide Eco-certificates to organizations and individuals who make a positive contribution to conservation and keeping the environment clean.
Achievements during First 12 month period after RCE status was obtained (2012)
- Several projects that involved youth in formal education e.g. Green Environmental Project,
Project Shine, Creative (recycling) Competition, Gobabeb outdoor learning
- A curriculum for a Master in Education in ESD has been designed
- Awareness raising in out-of school youth and informal settlements – contacts were made and partners involved from the community as well as from the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture
Achievements after 24 month period (2013)
- Workshop for Teachers on ESD was held in collaboration with RCE from Sweden
- Curriculum for MEd in ESD has been submitted for approval to University authorities
- Several projects for out-of-school youth such as the mobile learning project
- Several awareness programmes e.g. Coastal Biodiversity week, Production of festive season flyers, initiation of Ecotourism awareness project in Swakopmund
- Research on improving water quality of surface and drinking water in Windhoek – research started – first publication produced
Achievements after 36 month period (2014)
- ECOMATE project and certification started
- Project Shine charter released and project initiated
- National survey of ESD and Disaster risk management activities and gaps analysis performed
- Research on improving water quality of surface and drinking water in Windhoek – research continued – second publication produced
- The Green Environment Project initiated
3.4 Projects and their effects
Thus far there has been no portfolio compiled and published to capture all research that was done within the RCE Khomas-Erongo. Research is done, but can be more extensive.
Various projects were undertaken and some are on-going. These projects significantly contributed to an increased awareness of the youth in formal, informal education and out-of –school youth, as well as of the general public about environmental issues. The projects also addressed other aspects of ESD such as empowering people with skills and knowledge. Several learners were trained and out-of school youth were provided with skills that will allow them to become entrepreneurs. Some of the RCE projects involved research that assisted in the improvement of water quality and management as well as the training of educators in climate change, ESD and disaster risk reduction. A few of the projects were in collaboration with other RCEs and countries such as Sweden and Finland. The coastal Biodiversity week was a successful collaboration among RCE members with other local stakeholders from outside the RCE.
The following projects are some of the successful projects within the RCE Khomas-Erongo region:
i. Mobile learning for out of school youth
Objective: Provide training and skills to out-of-school youth that will enable them to be self-employed and be aware of ESD.
Activities: Provide training courses via mobile learning for mushroom cultivation, ESD, building and using energy efficient stoves, producing fireballs from recycled material, efficient use of water and entrepreneurship.
ii. Green Environmental Project – Erongo region
Objective: The project aims to implement environmental sustainability within the Swakopmund community through environmental education and eco-tourism. To promote Swakopmund as the first sustainable city in Namibia. Encourage an environmental friendly behaviour amongst organizations, schools and the local community at large. To develop and support a peer to peer learning environment, where youths can teach each other through workshops for skill building, and developing environmental projects and promoting sustainable tourism within Swakopmund. The specific objectives are:
• Unite all school environmental clubs
• Promote school gardening
• Celebrate international and national environmental days
• Co-ordinate various environmental activities in school
• Raise environmental awareness within Swakopmund
• Promote partnership with local organizations
Activities:Green Environmental Project seminar involving schools and private organizations; Arbor day celebrations; Adventure travel world summit clean-up day; anti-littering campaign.
iii. Project Shine – Erongo region
Objectives: To minimize the negative effects of pollutants in the environment; Promote awareness among participating organizations and the sponsor’s towards environmental conservation; To promote and support local recycling operators; To emphasis the economic value of waste; To remove all glass bottles and glass fragments amongst other pollutants along the main road from Swakopmund and 40km towards Arandis; To involve members of the community through non-profit organizations such as churches, schools and sport clubs.
Activities: Creative recycling competition; clean-up campaigns involving local communities and businesses
iv. Water research with Municipality of Windhoek
Objectives: To improve water quality provided by the City of Windhoek through reclamation of wastewater for drinking water.
Activities: Research was performed to establish the potential hazards that may be posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals present in domestic wastewater and to establish a bio-monitoring system to monitor these emerging chemicals in the wastewater. Research was also performed to establish the causes for sludge bulking within the wastewater treatment plant that compromise on quality of effluent provided for reclamation to supply drinking water to the City of Windhoek.
v. Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development (CCESD)
Objectives: Inform the training of stakeholders on climate change, ESD and disaster risk reduction.
Activities: Performed a National needs assessment and gap analysis of CCESD within Namibia. Research was performed and a report with recommendations was produced.
vi. ESD – Swakopmund
Objectives: This is a partnership between the RCE Khomas-Erongo and the RCE Malmo (Sweden). It involves two projects; one on solar energy and one on waste.
Activities: Project on solar energy:The situational analysis was done on energy and the implementation of solar system energy was identified. This yielded results in a wide spread knowledge regarding the installation of solar panels. The solar installations have been built by trainees from less affluent areas in Swakopmund, trained by a Swedish solar expert. Since the solar panels are working well by producing hot water for the community, among other things, the Municipality and private operators are planning for more solar installations.
ESD: The Gobabeb Centre, in collaboration with its partner institute, the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, has embarked on an innovative project to enhance access to information and knowledge on Education for Sustainable Development in our region. All leaners in Swakopmund have an opportunity to visit this center for outdoor education activity. Other ESD activities involved teaching learners how to build CD racks to grow algae for aquaria and how to build solar cookers.
vii. Coastal Biodiversity week
Objectives: The Coastal Biodiversity Weeks are particularly organized closer to the celebration of international environmental days, such as the World Environment Day (5th June), the World Oceans Day (8th June), the International Coastal Clean-up Day (September) and the Rhino Day (22nd September). Such days are then celebrated jointly with normal days, and different activities take place. The main is to increase the level of awareness on the importance of taking care for the environment among the coastal stakeholders.
Activities: The activities for the Coastal Biodiversity Weeks include: competitions, summits and conferences, environmental tours, prize giving ceremonies, presentations to schools and to the public, educational tours, screening of environmental films, youth environmental contests (Mr & Miss COASTODIAN), Gala dinners, bird watching events and clean-ups.
viii. Eco-certification
Objectives: Encourage an environmental friendly behaviour amongst organizations, schools and the local community at large. To use the project logo as a trademark to promote sustainable development in Swakopmund.
Activities: Provide Eco-certificates to organizations and individuals who make a positive contribution to conservation and keeping the environment clean.
c) Challenges experiences: Character count 300 words:
There should be improved coordination within the RCE and monitoring/recording/reporting of work done within the RCE. The following recommendations are made to enable this:
- There should be one person within each region that facilitates and monitor progress of projects within each region and between the two regions.
- The Secretariat should follow up regularly on progress of projects.
- The RCE will establish an online system to allow posting of reports when a project is done and to allow monitoring of progress of the various projects.
- A portfolio has not been compiled yet and published. Portfolio of research and projects should be compiled and published. The Secretariat should take this responsibility.
- Improve coherence. The Secretariat should be the link between two regions to promote the concept of ONE RCE and improve collaboration between the two regions.
To ensure long term sustainability and activity of the RCE there is a need to improve financial resources. The following recommendations were made to achieve this:
- Write joint/collaborative proposals for various projects to source funding. Proposal can also be written together with other African RCEs and one should go intercontinental to get support and sponsorship
- Getting embassies to sponsor the RCE as part of their community involvement.
- There should be marketing of the RCE to make it more visible. The Steering committee and Secretariat should take the lead on this. Marketing of the RCE can be done through multi-media systems, radio and TV, organization of RCE conferences, etc.
- Advocacy (bringing to the RCE higher levels and put good practices of the RCE in writing to “sell” the RCE). Involve high profile partners that can address some challenges
- Marketing
- Involvement of the private sector
- Forming partnerships with other key stakeholders to involve them and to broaden resources.
- Invite relevant Ministers and make a presentation to make them understand what RCE is about. This should also be done with the various Municipalities.
There is a need to improve collaboration with the other African and International RCEs as well as with the Service Center of the UNU. The following recommendations were made to achieve this:
- Collaboration can be improved through joint project proposal writing for funding
- Sharing of ideas of good practices
- Documentation and distribution of good practices and success stories
- Forms of engagement may include: (a) VIP conferences; (b) attend meetings of other RCEs and invite them to attend our meetings to allow collaboration and joint writing of articles; (c) publish through blogs and social media.
- Organize conferences
- Utilize google network
- More communication and interaction with RCE global Centre
- Submit articles for global Service Centre website
- Read newsletters sent by RCE global Centre and react to them where necessary.
- Publish work from our RCE locally and distribute among other RCEs in Africa.
- Open a facebook page
- There should be one person within each region that facilitates and monitor progress of projects within each region and between the two regions.
- The Secretariat should follow up regularly on progress of projects.
- The RCE will establish an online system to allow posting of reports when a project is done and to allow monitoring of progress of the various projects.
- A portfolio has not been compiled yet and published. Portfolio of research and projects should be compiled and published. The Secretariat should take this responsibility.
- Improve coherence. The Secretariat should be the link between two regions to promote the concept of ONE RCE and improve collaboration between the two regions.
To ensure long term sustainability and activity of the RCE there is a need to improve financial resources. The following recommendations were made to achieve this:
- Write joint/collaborative proposals for various projects to source funding. Proposal can also be written together with other African RCEs and one should go intercontinental to get support and sponsorship
- Getting embassies to sponsor the RCE as part of their community involvement.
- There should be marketing of the RCE to make it more visible. The Steering committee and Secretariat should take the lead on this. Marketing of the RCE can be done through multi-media systems, radio and TV, organization of RCE conferences, etc.
- Advocacy (bringing to the RCE higher levels and put good practices of the RCE in writing to “sell” the RCE). Involve high profile partners that can address some challenges
- Marketing
- Involvement of the private sector
- Forming partnerships with other key stakeholders to involve them and to broaden resources.
- Invite relevant Ministers and make a presentation to make them understand what RCE is about. This should also be done with the various Municipalities.
There is a need to improve collaboration with the other African and International RCEs as well as with the Service Center of the UNU. The following recommendations were made to achieve this:
- Collaboration can be improved through joint project proposal writing for funding
- Sharing of ideas of good practices
- Documentation and distribution of good practices and success stories
- Forms of engagement may include: (a) VIP conferences; (b) attend meetings of other RCEs and invite them to attend our meetings to allow collaboration and joint writing of articles; (c) publish through blogs and social media.
- Organize conferences
- Utilize google network
- More communication and interaction with RCE global Centre
- Submit articles for global Service Centre website
- Read newsletters sent by RCE global Centre and react to them where necessary.
- Publish work from our RCE locally and distribute among other RCEs in Africa.
- Open a facebook page
