Ms. Rachel Odede. Resident Coordinator ai, UN Namibia (UNN)
1
______________________________________________________________________________
Capacity Building on Public Policy Development, Review, Evaluation and Coordination for the Acceleration of the SDGs in Namibia
Official Launch, Scoping, and Institutional Engagement Webinar
Draft Opening Remarks for Ms. Rachel Odede. Resident Coordinator ai. UN Namibia
3 September 2020. 15hrs – 17hrs
Introduction
• Good afternoon Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.
• I am pleased and feel privileged to be speaking on behalf of the United Nations in Namibia (UNN), at this very important Official Launch of the joint work on Capacity Building on Public Policy Development, Review, Evaluation and Coordination for the Acceleration of the SDGs in Namibia.
• Allow me, to acknowledge the presence of my friend and sister in arms, Ms. Wilhencia Uiras, the newly appointed Executive Director of the National Planning Commission (NPC).
• Also present is Mr. Sen Pang, the Resident Coordinator designated at UN Namibia (UNN).
• Through Mr. Amson Sibanda. Chief, National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch (NSCBB), Division for Sustainable Development Goals, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), we welcome the UNDESA family to our home Namibia, the land of the Brave!
• It has taken us a while, and the journey has been long, but we are finally here to witness the fruits of our hard labor.
• Thus, I wish to extend my sincere and heartfelt congratulatory message to the teams that have so tirelessly over the last months, across oceans and time zones, to kickstart this work.
• Thank you to NPC for offering the UN an opportunity to contribute to the efforts the Government. Thank you to UNDESA for responding to the request. And then of course the UN Namibia team for ably being an anchor.
• This is testament to the fact that when we work together, and we pool our resources, we can achieve our shared objectives as articulated in our joint commitment the UNPAF (United Nations Partnership Agreement Framework, which aligns with the National Development Plans of Namibia.
2
The Request
• Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
• The NPC requested for technical support from UNDESA to provide capacity building training to NPC officials and other government officials on public policy development, review, evaluation and coordination.
• The UNDESA, jointly with the UNN, has decided to respond positively to this request, which comprises a range of elements are articulated in the Concept Note.
• I understand that Namibia is the pioneer of this training, we are therefore committed to implementation, during this period of the new normal.
• As a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of in-person training, as originally requested by the NPC, is currently not possible.
• Therefore, it has been agreed that we would conduct a series of capacity building virtual webinars.
• This is the Official Launch and first Scoping Webinar to understand the background and nature of the demand and to establish clear purpose, scope and objectives of this capacity building endeavor.
Capacity Building of NPC
• Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
• I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this work: Capacity development is one of the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. By sharing our knowledge and experience, we position ourselves to better deliver, to those that we serve for people, planet and prosperity.
• As mandated by the Cabinet, the NPC is responsible for the strengthening of policy effectiveness and coherence across the Government Ministries and Institutions in alignment with the implementation of the National Development Plans (NDPs) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).
• Coordination enables us to deliver effectively, efficiently and coherently.
• Improving coordination requires analysis of existing coordination structures and processes including on:
o Provisions for coordination: mandates and authority for coordination.
o Accountability systems: to monitor, evaluate vertical and horizontal engagement in coordination.
o Staff capacities: for ownership, to enhance participation and commitment.
o Administrative systems: harmonized to limit burden, financial resources.
• This information on the status of coordination can then help facilitate the development of tools and structures for improvement.
3
• Review, evaluation and coordination of public policies is essential to ensure and enhance the effectiveness, consistency, complementarities and harmonization of public policies across Government Ministries and Institutions.
• Thus, we agree that the mandate and responsibility of the NPC can only be realized if NPC officials and other government officials acquire necessary technical skills and knowledge to execute policy processes, including policy development, review, analysis, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and coordination.
Collaboration with NPC, GIZ and UNDESA
• Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
• The UN in Namibia recognizes the commitment and determination of the NPC in leading and strengthening the coordinated policy mechanism.
• We also recognize the substantial assistance of GIZ for policy development in close partnership with the NPC.
• We enthusiastically welcome UNDESA’s technical capacity and expertise in public policy.
• Building on that, the UN Namibia is ready to provide technical and operational assistance, in a true spirit of partnership for the SDGs.
• I wish to express once more, our sincere appreciation for your participation and cooperation at this Official Launch of this work, and the related Scoping Webinar to guide the work as we move along.
• I wish you fruitful deliberations.
• I thank you.***
______________________________________________________________________________
Capacity Building on Public Policy Development, Review, Evaluation and Coordination for the Acceleration of the SDGs in Namibia
Official Launch, Scoping, and Institutional Engagement Webinar
Draft Opening Remarks for Ms. Rachel Odede. Resident Coordinator ai. UN Namibia
3 September 2020. 15hrs – 17hrs
Introduction
• Good afternoon Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.
• I am pleased and feel privileged to be speaking on behalf of the United Nations in Namibia (UNN), at this very important Official Launch of the joint work on Capacity Building on Public Policy Development, Review, Evaluation and Coordination for the Acceleration of the SDGs in Namibia.
• Allow me, to acknowledge the presence of my friend and sister in arms, Ms. Wilhencia Uiras, the newly appointed Executive Director of the National Planning Commission (NPC).
• Also present is Mr. Sen Pang, the Resident Coordinator designated at UN Namibia (UNN).
• Through Mr. Amson Sibanda. Chief, National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch (NSCBB), Division for Sustainable Development Goals, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), we welcome the UNDESA family to our home Namibia, the land of the Brave!
• It has taken us a while, and the journey has been long, but we are finally here to witness the fruits of our hard labor.
• Thus, I wish to extend my sincere and heartfelt congratulatory message to the teams that have so tirelessly over the last months, across oceans and time zones, to kickstart this work.
• Thank you to NPC for offering the UN an opportunity to contribute to the efforts the Government. Thank you to UNDESA for responding to the request. And then of course the UN Namibia team for ably being an anchor.
• This is testament to the fact that when we work together, and we pool our resources, we can achieve our shared objectives as articulated in our joint commitment the UNPAF (United Nations Partnership Agreement Framework, which aligns with the National Development Plans of Namibia.
2
The Request
• Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
• The NPC requested for technical support from UNDESA to provide capacity building training to NPC officials and other government officials on public policy development, review, evaluation and coordination.
• The UNDESA, jointly with the UNN, has decided to respond positively to this request, which comprises a range of elements are articulated in the Concept Note.
• I understand that Namibia is the pioneer of this training, we are therefore committed to implementation, during this period of the new normal.
• As a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of in-person training, as originally requested by the NPC, is currently not possible.
• Therefore, it has been agreed that we would conduct a series of capacity building virtual webinars.
• This is the Official Launch and first Scoping Webinar to understand the background and nature of the demand and to establish clear purpose, scope and objectives of this capacity building endeavor.
Capacity Building of NPC
• Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
• I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this work: Capacity development is one of the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. By sharing our knowledge and experience, we position ourselves to better deliver, to those that we serve for people, planet and prosperity.
• As mandated by the Cabinet, the NPC is responsible for the strengthening of policy effectiveness and coherence across the Government Ministries and Institutions in alignment with the implementation of the National Development Plans (NDPs) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).
• Coordination enables us to deliver effectively, efficiently and coherently.
• Improving coordination requires analysis of existing coordination structures and processes including on:
o Provisions for coordination: mandates and authority for coordination.
o Accountability systems: to monitor, evaluate vertical and horizontal engagement in coordination.
o Staff capacities: for ownership, to enhance participation and commitment.
o Administrative systems: harmonized to limit burden, financial resources.
• This information on the status of coordination can then help facilitate the development of tools and structures for improvement.
3
• Review, evaluation and coordination of public policies is essential to ensure and enhance the effectiveness, consistency, complementarities and harmonization of public policies across Government Ministries and Institutions.
• Thus, we agree that the mandate and responsibility of the NPC can only be realized if NPC officials and other government officials acquire necessary technical skills and knowledge to execute policy processes, including policy development, review, analysis, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and coordination.
Collaboration with NPC, GIZ and UNDESA
• Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
• The UN in Namibia recognizes the commitment and determination of the NPC in leading and strengthening the coordinated policy mechanism.
• We also recognize the substantial assistance of GIZ for policy development in close partnership with the NPC.
• We enthusiastically welcome UNDESA’s technical capacity and expertise in public policy.
• Building on that, the UN Namibia is ready to provide technical and operational assistance, in a true spirit of partnership for the SDGs.
• I wish to express once more, our sincere appreciation for your participation and cooperation at this Official Launch of this work, and the related Scoping Webinar to guide the work as we move along.
• I wish you fruitful deliberations.
• I thank you.***