DRFN, NNF form alliance

THE Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) have decided to set up a strategic alliance and to create a Namibia Institute for Sustainable Development.

Between them, the NNF and DRFN implement or support more than 100 environmental and sustainable development projects and programmes in Namibia. Announcing the decision in Windhoek on Tuesday, Dr Chris Brown of the NNF said the new institute will improve co-ordination. It will be better placed to address and implement the challenges of sustainable development in Namibia and respond to changing circumstances, including climate change.It is also seen as reducing competition between the partners within the institute, improving efficiency and cutting costs.’The current two boards of trustees will be consolidated into one board, the current financial and office administrations will similarly be consolidated and an Executive Director will be appointed to run the new Namibia Institute for Sustainable Development, the NNF and the DRFN,’ Brown said.’The Executive Director will be assisted by a Deputy Director in each of the NNF and DRFN, but both organisations will continue to work in their individual capacities.’The NNF is 22 years old, while the DRFN was started in 1990 to separate the activities of the Gobabeb desert research station near Walvis Bay from collecting donor funds and the consultancy division. The DRFN is currently run by acting Executive Director Vivianne Kinyaga.Both groups also work on a number of transboundary initiatives, collaborate with and support at least eight Government Ministries. In addition, they work in partnership with more than a dozen local and international NGOs, provide support to many communities and community-based organisations, and carry out research and rural development. The two organisations play an important role in ensuring that Namibia’s environment remains healthy and productive and that Namibians use their natural resources in sustainable and productive ways to combat poverty and improve people’s quality of life.The vision for the new Namibia Institute for Sustainable Development is to support Namibia to develop the programmes, partnerships, processes and capacity to achieve Vision 2030 and to collaborate at local, national, regional and global levels to further this vision.