NAMIBIA

	FY 1998 Actual	FY 1999 Estimate	FY 2000 Request
Development Assistance	$5,550,000	$6,650,000	---
Development Fund for Africa	---	---	$7,100,000
Child Survival and Disease	$2,800,000	$2,000,000	$2,200,000
Economic Support Funds	---	---	$1,500,000
P.L. 480 Title II	$30,286,000	$8,278,000	$6,479,000

Introduction.

Although its population is just 1.7 million, Namibia is a vast country, twice the size of California. It is uniquely positioned to play a vital role in the political stability and economic development of the entire Southern Africa region. Only nine years after attaining a hard-won independence, Namibia has much to offer in example and in potential. The country is blessed with a rich resource base of minerals (diamonds, gold, copper, zinc, lead, and silver), mammoth coastal fishing stocks, a superior business and transportation infrastructure system, and spectacular tourist destinations, including the fabled Skeleton Coast and Etosha, Africa's oldest game park.

Namibia remains one of the more politically stable countries on the continent. This stability has helped maintain a highly favorable business climate, including incentives and strong protection for foreign investors. Namibia has demonstrated its attractiveness and potential as a growing market for U.S. exports and investment. Detroit-based Barden International recently opened a $12 million General Motors vehicle conversion plant in Windhoek, and Texaco holds a minority stake in Namibia's large offshore Kudu Gas Field. The newly-opened Trans-Kalahari highway, linking Botswana and Namibia, and the Trans-Caprivi Highway will increase the region's access to the port of Walvis Bay, a large first-class facility that eventually will compete with large regional ports like Durban and Cape Town. While considerable obstacles remain to realizing its full economic potential, Namibia clearly is on the way to becoming a pivotal trade and investment gateway for the nearly 200 million residents of Southern Africa.

The Development Challenge.

Namibia's recent independence did not erase its stinging legacy of more than 40 years of apartheid social and economic policies. Although Namibia's GDP per capita income of $1,917 is almost four times higher than the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, income distribution is highly unequal. About 60% of the majority black population live in communal lands in rural areas, surviving on annual incomes of US$100 - 200, with limited access to social services. There is a high incidence of HIV/AIDS; more than twice as many people of all ages die of HIV-related illnesses than die of malaria, the nation’s second-highest killer. High population growth (3%), high student failure rates (40%), and high unemployment and visible underemployment (40%) are other major development challenges.

A 1997 labor force survey shows that 20% of children between five and nine years of age have not attended school. Fifty-four percent of the population have completed only some primary education. The 1998 National Human Resource Plan reveals severe deficits of higher- and middle-level professionals and technically skilled personnel. More than 60% of the employed labor force has only a primary education or no schooling at all; less than 6% have completed some tertiary education.

The Namibian economy is dominated by large South African firms. The Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) is aggressively pursuing other outside investors. Although Namibia is considered one of the most competitive economies on the continent, it has been directly affected by declining world market prices for leading exports. Namibia's growth rate fell from 4.3% in 1997 to 0.8% in 1998. Mining remains the leading sector, accounting for 15.1% of GDP. During the first three quarters of 1998, however, diamond, copper, zinc, lead and gold prices dropped substantially. Also in 1998, poor rainfall resulted in low agricultural production. Total farming debt jumped 17% from September 1997 to September 1998, forcing the sale of 51% of the national livestock herd in order to repay debt. Total government debt is expected to grow from the present 21% to 23.4% of GDP. The level of external debt in Namibia is far less than that of many other developing countries, however. This is a testament to the GRN’s commitment to sound fiscal management, even in the face of urgent demands by the mostly black, very poor majority to address the social and economic disparities created by apartheid.

Other Donors.

USAID is the fourth largest bilateral donor, following Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Despite its relatively modest size, USAID's program is highly visible, strategic, and results-oriented. USAID generally leads donor efforts in its areas of focus, particularly basic education and natural resource management. Donor coordination meetings are held under the sponsorship of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In addition, USAID has taken the initiative to hold more frequent consultations with international donors in Namibia, particularly in the democracy and governance arena.

FY 2000 Program.

With extraordinary cooperation from the GRN, the USAID program in Namibia has exceeded expectations. The responsiveness of the USAID program to the country's highest development priorities has been publicly acknowledged by several prominent government officials. Cooperation with the GRN in basic education reform is showing positive impact on students and schools at the first and second grade levels. Research indicates that students in over 500 USAID-supported schools demonstrate markedly advanced learning levels compared to those not yet included in the GRN/USAID program. Assistance to the Parliament and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has resulted in greater public debate and citizen input on pending legislation. USAID also is a leader in promoting income-generating activities for sustainable community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in Namibia’s fragile, drought-prone environment. The initial legal and policy framework for CBNRM is in place; four nature conservancies have been established; and over 55,000 community members are expected to benefit over the next few years.

USAID is requesting a total of $9.3 million in support of its goal to strengthen Namibia's new democracy through the economic, social, and political empowerment of its majority black population. Of the total request, $4 million will be used to enhance the economic, political, and social roles of historically disadvantaged Namibians (HDNs) in key organizations. Within this area, USAID intends to expand its efforts with the private sector, in order to respond to the GRN's development priority of creating jobs and meaningful employment for HDNs as well as to the U.S. government's goal of encouraging and fostering broad-based economic growth. USAID is requesting $2.2 million to build upon the solid educational infrastructure (teachers trained, curricula developed and adopted). The essential second phase of the basic education program will focus on the quality of education at the primary level, improved budgeting and resource allocation methods, and creating stronger community and parental involvement. The program will be expanded to new areas in northern Namibia.

USAID will expand its successful pilot CBNRM program to a nationwide effort with $2.0 million in environmental funding. The nationwide program will establish additional conservancies, generate benefits for these conservancies through sustainable management of local natural resources, and continue work on the policy and legal framework for the national adoption of CBNRM. USAID also requests $1.1 million in democracy and governance funds to strengthen Parliament and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In addition to continuing its work to strengthen Namibia's bicameral Parliament and its responsiveness to citizen input, USAID will increasingly work with NGOs to further the development of Namibian civil society.

NAMIBIA

FY 2000 PROGRAM SUMMARY
(in thousands of dollars)

USAID Mission Director, Carol Scherrer-Palma

USAID Strategic and Special Objectives	Economic Growth & Agriculture	Population & Health	Environment	Democracy	Human Capacity Development	Humanitarian Assistance	TOTALS
S.O. 1. Enhanced Roles for Historically Disadvantaged Namibians in Key Public Sector, Non-Govt & Private Sector Organizations - DFA	4,000	---	---	---	---	---	4,000
S.O. 2. Impr Delivery of Quality Prim. Educ. to Namibian Learners in Grades 1-4 in Most Disadv. Schools - CS	---	---	---	---	2,200	---	2,200
S.O. 3. Incr Benefits to Historically Disadvantaged Namibians from Sustainable Local Mgmt of Natural Resources - DFA	---	---	2,000	---	---	---	2,000
S.O. 4. Increased Accountability of Parliament to All Namibian Citizens - DFA	---	---	---	1,100	---	---	1,100
Totals - DFA - CS	4,000 ---	--- ---	2,000 ---	1,100 ---	--- 2,200	--- ---	7,100 2,200

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NAMIBIA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Enhanced Roles for Historically Disadvantaged Namibians in Key Public, NGO and Private Sector Organizations, 673-SO01
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000: $4,000,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 2005

Summary: Nine years after independence, Namibia is facing serious challenges in social and economic development, intensified by the huge disparities in the roles and responsibilities enjoyed by different racial groups in the economy. Especially in the private sector, whites continue to dominate, holding 86% of senior management positions, 68% of mid- and junior management positions, and 36% of supervisory positions (according to a 1997 study). The same study showed that, in contrast, 'mixed race' and black employees occupied 88% of all operational and semi-skilled jobs.

This activity aims to create a pool of Historically Disadvantaged Namibians (HDNs) able to compete for jobs that have been traditionally the preserve of whites and, in particular, to address higher-level human capacity gaps in the public, private and NGO sectors. While the Namibian government is committed to human capacity development as a pillar of its National Development Plan, neither the budget-strained public sector nor the private sector, unaccustomed to investing in human capital, are adequately working to fill these human resource gaps. USAID, therefore, is assisting key institutions to address crucial skill development needs and to promote employment equity and linkages between HDN enterprises and firms in the mainstream economy. The inclusion of women in the economy, who traditionally have faced additional constraints due to cultural factors, is a special focus of this activity.

Key Results: By the end of FY 1998, nearly 800 historically disadvantaged Namibians, across all sectors, had received USAID-funded managerial and technical training. In September 1998, after a three-year delay, the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) promulgated the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act, and USAID-funded conferences and workshops subsequently were conducted to help the government and private companies examine ways to implement the legislation, especially in regard to reforming recruitment, selection and career development systems. USAID partnerships with private firms and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) have increased awareness among key business leaders of the need to introduce diversity management practices in order to ensure firm growth and competitiveness.

Performance and Prospects: Private sector "demand" for higher-level HDN training linked to enhanced roles continued to be limited to a few large progressive firms. However, signs of increased interest followed the passage of affirmative action legislation, and broader business sector awareness of the benefits of workforce diversity was generated during U.S.- and South Africa-based training. USAID-funded management and technical training (U.S., regional, or in-country) has been provided to 351 HDN employees of 32 companies. Outside the mainstream private sector, USAID sent representatives from the Indigenous People's Business Council to South Africa to examine the process of developing business linkages, after which 13 small Namibian firms joined Namibia’s largest construction company in a bid for a large GRN construction tender.

In the public sector, the volume of training, particularly in-country and third-country activities, increased over the past year. By the end of FY 1998, 84 HDN employees of public sector institutions had undergone U.S. or third-country training, and another 270 had received in-country training. Twelve Namibians completed master's-level training in the United States during FY 1998, and at least five of these were subsequently promoted or moved into expanded professional roles within their organizations. Due to increased austerity and staff retrenchment, the willingness of public service agencies to release employees for long-term training has decreased. In-country senior-level strategic management training was carried out in a key USAID partner institution, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The Prime Minister's office and the Public Service Commission subsequently identified this training for replication across GRN agencies.

Activities under this strategic objective continue to strengthen planning and management skills among NGOs. In FY 1998 new partnerships were established with professional associations such as the Namibia Lawyers' Association and the Institute for Personnel Management. USAID provided training in technical areas (commercial law and personnel management, respectively) that directly supports firm goals and, consequently, private sector growth.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: Planned consultations and assessments in FY 1999, as well as some pilot activities to investigate new approaches and partnerships with Namibia's private sector, will help USAID determine ways to strengthen this strategic objective's links to economic growth. The results framework for this strategic objective will be revised, with new future-year performance targets established.

Other Donor Programs: A large share of Sweden's assistance has been to primary and secondary education. Germany has provided assistance with technical and vocational training. Some technical or management-oriented training appears in sectoral programs of each major donor. Among the multilateral donors, European Community assistance includes training for the agricultural sector. USAID is the only major donor with a cross-sectoral training program, and the only one with a specific program objective to promote enhanced HDN roles at middle and upper levels of selected institutions. However, USAID and the United Nations Development Program jointly support capacity building for economic management within the National Planning Commission and Ministry of Finance. The Ford Foundation has assisted NCCI to establish an affirmative action advisory service. No other donor assistance is anticipated to help businesses plan and implement employment equity.

Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: The U.S. implementing partner for USAID-funded training is the Institute for International Education. Local partners include the GRN, NCCI, private sector companies, and several NGOs, including the newly formed Indigenous People's Business Council, the Windhoek Chamber of Commerce, and the Namibia Trainer's Network. FY 1999 design and consultation activities likely will identify additional private sector partners.

Selected Performance Measures:

	Baseline	FY 2000	Target (2005)
Number of USAID-trained HDNs assuming increased responsibilities	0 (1995)	297	*
Number of target organizations with enhanced roles for USAID-trained HDNs	0 (1993)	72	*
Number of public sector units and private sector organizations with human resource development plans supporting HDN professional development	0 (1995)	65	*
Targets for FY2005 are currently being finalized (see "Possible Adjustments to Plans," above).

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NAMIBIA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Delivery of Quality Primary Education to Grade 1-4 Learners in the Most Disadvantaged Schools, 673-SO02
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000: $2,200,000 CS
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 2004

Summary: The educational system inherited by the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) at independence in 1990 was fragmented along racial and ethnic lines, with vast disparities in the allocation of resources. Consequently, the GRN has given high priority to the reform and restructuring of the educational system. USAID is assisting the GRN's educational reform initiatives, including strengthening the Ministry of Basic Education and Culture (MBEC) through support for curriculum development, production and assessment in the Lower Primary Phase, while improving learner outcomes in the most disadvantaged schools of the country. USAID assistance also supports the professional development of teachers, higher education degree programs for Ministry officials involved in policy development, research, management and administration, as well as the institutional development of the new Ministry of Higher Education, Vocational Training, Science and Technology.

Key Results: Major achievements include: (1) 800 teachers trained in the use of new instructional and assessment materials; (2) Production of these materials in five local languages that can be used by all teachers; (3) Introduction of these Grades 1 and 2 materials into 500 schools in three of the four target regions; (4) Observational studies completed showing enhanced learning in the use of these materials and newly introduced teaching methods; (5) Enrollment of 14 Namibians in master's degree programs in curriculum development, and 12 in educational policy and research; and (6) Introduction of a new monitoring and evaluation system for basic education.

Performance and Prospects: Performance over the past year has exceeded expectations. At the national level, USAID continues to support the GRN in education policy reform and planning. As a result, there are new policies guiding the development, translation, distribution and assessment of syllabi and teaching materials for Grades 1 through 4. In 1998 a research and statistics training program was developed by USAID's Basic Education Support (BES) activity for Ministry officials involved in planning and research. In addition, the series of USAID-funded Teachers' Basic Competency Manuals has been incorporated into the National Instructional Skills Certificate Program and is now required for unqualified teachers. USAID also has supported the development of the Ministry of Higher Education's policy framework.

USAID is supporting nearly 500 disadvantaged lower primary schools in four target regions, serving more than one-half of the lower primary school learners in the northern regions and 25% of the most disadvantaged student population in Namibia. Activities in 1998 focused on assisting teachers in the delivery of improved curricula and teaching methods. Currently, improved Grade 1 and 2 materials have been introduced into three of the nation's seven educational regions, and Grade 3 materials have been completed and are ready for distribution. Over 60 local trainers and 480 educators have been trained to undertake this task.

At the community level, Peace Corps volunteers provide support through one-on-one tutoring, local workshops, and training sessions throughout the country. Teachers have been trained as writers of educational materials. The results from classroom observations in July 1998 indicate positive changes in learning trends in classrooms assisted by the BES program. A series of monographs illustrating accomplishments of the project has been published, with 500 copies distributed nationally and internationally.

A nationwide monitoring and evaluation system for tracking results at the primary school level was established in the MBEC in 1997, and a newly developed monitoring and evaluation activity was launched in 1998 with assistance from a local NGO.

In order to sustain USAID's successes in primary education, the Professional Enhancement Program (PEP) was launched in March 1998. This innovative Masters and Ph.D. program targets 34 MBEC officials involved in the areas of curriculum development, assessment, policy planning and research. A three-year distance education degree involving the University of Namibia, University of Western Cape (South Africa), and U.S. universities has been created under the lead of the University of Montana. In 1998, 22 of the 34 PEP participants completed their residency courses at the University of Western Cape, have had their research proposals approved, and have begun research on various issues pertaining to Namibia's education reform.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: USAID will continue needed support for the GRN education reform program, with Grade 3 materials introduced in 1999. Grade 4 materials will be developed in 1999 and introduced in 2000 as the first phase of project ends. Baseline data collected for Grade 1 in July and November 1997 shows marked improvement of learners using the new materials and methods. Follow-on data for Grade 2 was collected in mid- and late 1998. The data will be analyzed to assess project impact on learners' outcomes; the Ministry then will determine whether to expand the materials to the remaining three education regions.

USAID's plan for the next five years of basic education support was endorsed by the GRN and put in place in 1998. The program expands USAID's support to improve instructional systems and support to school management. Activities will be implemented under a performance-based contract to be awarded competitively.

Other Donor Programs: USAID is the primary donor providing assistance at the lower primary level. Other donors supporting the GRN in complementary areas include several U.N. agencies, the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the European Union.

Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: Key implementers include the Institute for International Research, Ohio University, Harvard Institute for International Development, Peace Corps, University of Montana, University of Western Cape RSA, University of Namibia, and the Rossing Foundation, Namibia.

Selected Performance Measures:

	Baseline (1995)	FY 2000	Target (2004)
Increase in improved quality of primary school teachers in the target and selected schools	0	22%	80%
Production and distribution of Grades 2, 3 and 4 instructional materials	0	17 units	tbd
Progress toward new monitoring and evaluation system in place and operational	0	1	1
Advanced degree program in place and individuals trained	0	34	50

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NAMIBIA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Benefits to Historically Disadvantaged Namibians from Sustainable Management of Local Natural Resources, 673-SO03
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000: $2,000,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1992 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 2004

Summary: At independence in 1990, the new Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) inherited a legacy of apartheid policies, under which virtually all of the country's natural resources (including the best land) and most of the GRN's social services (primarily education and health) had been directed primarily to the well-off 5% minority. The needs of the rest of the population largely had been neglected. Since 1992, USAID has supported the national Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) program through its Living in a Finite Environment (LIFE) activity. LIFE is a joint effort between the U.S. and Namibian governments, with implementation by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), Namibian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other USAID partners.

USAID wants to increase benefits to historically disadvantaged Namibians who live in communal areas by ensuring their rights to manage natural resources and, in turn, to receive benefits from those resources. The key to the LIFE program is the establishment of "conservancies" in communal areas that provide for sustainable use and management of wildlife and other natural resources. Each conservancy selects a representative management committee and develops a sustainable management plan for the use of natural resources in the area, including joint ventures with private sector and community campsites/tourist villages. Income from these activities is distributed to the community according to the conservancy's benefit distribution plan. Some conservancies opt for benefit distribution to individuals, while others support community projects such as schools and health centers. All conservancies use some of the financial income to support the management and operational costs of the conservancies and to reinvest in the natural resource base.

The ultimate beneficiaries of the LIFE activity are the historically disadvantaged Namibians located in the communal areas served by the activity. The intermediate beneficiaries are the NGOs and MET, which work together to carry out conservancy development in specific communal areas.

Key Results: USAID has achieved outstanding results in this activity over the past five years. With the passage of the 1996 amendment to the Nature Conservancies Act of 1975, the GRN has one of the most progressive policy environments for CBNRM in the Southern African region. To date, four conservancies have been formally recognized by the GRN, and 16 other conservancies are in development. The four conservancies have put over 1,654,000 hectares of communal land under the direct management of conservancy management committees. Once their management plans are fully implemented, over 22,000 individuals living in these areas will receive benefits. Some income-generating activities in the conservancy areas already have produced positive benefits; over $200,000 has been generated from conservancy-managed enterprises such as campsites, craft sales, thatching grass and employment at lodges. This income is expected to increase substantially when conservancies enter into contracts with private sector tourism concessions.

Performance and Prospects: CBNRM performance through USAID's LIFE program has been excellent. All results indicators have been met or exceeded. However, success presents new developmental challenges as the program rises to new heights. Since the passage of the 1996 conservancy legislation, other ministries are developing policies related to user rights in communal areas, e.g., land, grazing, and fisheries. As these new policies are developed, they must be monitored to ensure their compliance with regulations under the Conservancy Act. Therefore, policy development will continue to be a concern of the CBNRM program.

Emerging conservancies are now searching for ways to become self-sustainable, both financially and institutionally. Business skills and entrepreneurial support will need to be made available to conservancy management committees as they move toward sustainability. USAID will monitor progress and provide support and assistance when necessary. Continued support from MET and Namibian NGOs also is key to the sustainability of the national CBNRM program. Improving the capacity for these institutions to carry the CBNRM program forward as USAID support declines is another challenge for the LIFE program.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: A follow-on to the current LIFE activity is planned, the purposes of which will be to develop sustainable strategies in a limited number of conservancies and to broaden the number of communities in which conservancies can develop. The program effort is expected to run through FY 2004, and to support the formal organization of 20 conservancies, of which six will be fully sustainable, self-financing and effectively managing natural resources.

Other Donor Programs: Twenty donors have provided more than $4 million to support CBNRM activities in Namibia. This rich array of supportive donors has allowed communities outside the LIFE project areas access to resources and benefits, while emerging conservancies have been able to broaden their programs beyond the scope of the LIFE activity.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: LIFE activities are implemented by the World Wildlife Fund, a U.S.-based NGO, which has subcontracts with World Learning, Inc., Management Systems International, and the Rossing Foundation, Namibia.

Selected Performance Measures:

	Baseline (1993)	FY 2000	Target (2004)
Community income (gross) from program-supported natural resource management activities)	0	$2,101,000	*
Number of individuals in target communities that benefit from program-supported CBNRM activities	0	55,430	*
Hectares of communal land under local management	0	4,135,750	*
Number of conservancies created	0	10	*
National policies, legislation and regulations adopted that promote environmentally sustainable resource management practices	1	9	*
Targets for FY2004 are currently being finalized (see "Possible Adjustments to Plans," above)

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NAMIBIA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Accountability of Parliament to All Namibian Citizens, 673-SO04
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCES: FY 2000: $1,100,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 2003

Summary: After Namibian independence in March 1990, great emphasis was put on creating and consolidating the power of new governing structures and addressing the legacy of inequality left by apartheid. Primacy was given to the executive branch (the President and government agencies), which soon dominated the legislative process and the public service. Parliament, which began as a National Assembly in 1990 and became a two-chamber body in 1992, was a new institution with limited experience, resources and capacity. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) established at or just after independence sought to play active roles in community development, and focused on addressing the needs of the unemployed and marginalized groups. Many of the NGOs created before independence, primarily as vehicles for anti-apartheid protest and advocates of democratic change, lost their purpose under the new political system and did not survive. In 1995, when USAID began to work with Parliament, there were no legislative review committees and no formal fora for public discussion on legislative issues. Budget formulation, for example, was limited to the executive branch, with Parliament approving it without debate or public input. Namibian citizens, who had had no experience with voting before 1990, had little idea how to bring their concerns to their elected representatives. The purpose of this activity, therefore, has been to strengthen the legislative structures and institutional capacity of both houses of Parliament, and to support stronger linkages between citizens and their elected representatives. The direct beneficiaries of this activity are Parliamentarians, Namibian citizens, NGOs, civic groups and the media.

Key Results: Major accomplishments to date include: (1) a total of 43 public hearings in Parliament held on 12 different issues; (2) eight of nine bills were referred to Parliamentary committees following public hearings for amendment; (3) Parliament amended the budget for the first time in the nation’s history; and (4) the publication and adoption of an "Agenda for Change" by Parliament, approved by the Cabinet and endorsed by President Nujoma, which proposes, among other things, increased transparency and public hearings.

Performance and Prospects: Now in its fourth year of implementation, this activity has surpassed expectations. Members of Parliament are being supported by the effective operations of the Parliamentary Research Information and Library Service, a focal point of USAID assistance. USAID has funded the translation of the handbook "Understanding the National Budget" into four local languages, and has provided financial assistance to a public interest law firm to produce and distribute bill summaries so as to enhance citizen understanding of legislative activities. Members of Parliament, members of regional councils, local authorities, and NGO representatives have increased popular understanding of national budget formulation through budget workshops conducted throughout the country. The installation of computer communications technology at the Namibia Non-Governmental Organization Forum (NANGOF) has strengthened its networking capacity. Advocacy desks at NANGOF and the Urban Trust of Namibia have been created to provide technical assistance and training to their member organizations who want to enhance their lobbying capabilities with Parliament and government agencies. NGOs and interest groups have initiated over a dozen long-term, comprehensive advocacy campaigns on development and social reforms. There has been more frequent and improved media coverage of the proceedings of both houses of Parliament, partly as a consequence of training courses organized with the BRICKS Community Project for Journalists. USAID also has supported activities of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament, whose purpose is to discuss common social concerns and consider legislative action. As a result of a USAID-funded study mission and the organization of national conferences, comprehensive ethics legislation is in the process of being drafted.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: While significant progress has been made, considerable work is required before Parliament will be able to fulfill its constitutional role. Now that basic training has been provided and the development of new procedures has largely been accomplished, more advanced, in-depth skills development is needed. In particular, more assistance must be directed at the National Council, whose membership and organizational capacity is not yet on a par with the National Assembly. NGOs remain fragile, with poorly organized constituencies and heavily dependent upon the work of one or two key leaders. Many remain overly dependent on donor funding. A longer-term engagement with key NGOs will be required to broaden the leadership base and enable constituencies to conduct the kinds of campaigns that will effectively influence legislation and government policy. While the quality and quantity of media coverage of Parliamentary events and legislative issues have improved, financial and other difficulties in the industry have prevented more in-depth and regular treatment of legislative matters. Because civil society is generally weak in Namibia, spaces need to be opened to enable debate and dissent to flourish.

Other Donor Programs: USAID is the only agency with a specific democracy and governance program, and coordinates information exchanges and discussions among other donors. Germany and the United Kingdom have provided equipment, staff training and technical assistance to Parliament. The United Nations Development Program is leading an initiative to build the capacity of regional councils for governance and decentralization. The European Union supports civic and voter education. The Netherlands and Sweden support research, training and capacity-building to enhance gender sensitivity in policy formulation and to strengthen the political participation of women in the electoral process. Sweden, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the United Kingdom, the United Nations Childrens' Fund and the Ford Foundation support NGOs, the media, and other civil society organizations to strengthen popular participation in governance.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is the principal implementer of this activity. NDI, a U.S.-based NGO, was working with Namibian NGOs and in the country's democracy/governance sector prior to Namibia's independence.

Selected Performance Measures:

	Baseline	FY 2000	Target (2003)
Number of issues on which public hearings, including committee hearings, are held	0 (1995)	25	*
Number of open public debates by party candidates in national and regional elections campaigns	2 (1994)	10	*
Targets for FY2003 are currently being finalized (see "Possible Adjustments to Plans," above)

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