Finland gives N$4 million for projects

THE Finnish government has signed agreements with nine local institutions to strengthen civil society, tourism development and entrepreneurship.

“The Finnish Fund for Local Co-operation is a fund managed by the Embassy of Finland in Windhoek,” said Charge d’Affaires Seija Kinni-Huttunen at the ceremony last week. “The fund supports initiatives of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), Government and other institutions in Namibia.”The objective of the fund is to complement other Finnish development efforts – with an overall aim of alleviating widespread poverty.In Namibia, activities that aim at strengthening and diversifying the relations between Finnish and Namibian organisations and institutions can also be supported,” Kinni-Huttunen added.The Fund is divided into four components, being institutional and trade linkages, civil society development, democracy, human rights, gender equality and strengthening local cultural identity.The fourth category is social equality, which includes support for the disabled, indigenous minorities, children and other vulnerable groups.The traditional Finnish bilateral development co-operation with Namibia is being phased out, and promotion of institutional linkages between public and private institutions, NGOs and CBOs in Namibia and Finland will thus become a priority.Increased linkages in trade and investment are encouraged, but projects promoting cultural and educational co-operation can also be supported.Support can also be given to projects that aim at strategically supporting the economic sector in Namibia, like small and medium enterprises (SMEs).The N$4 million grants for the nine projects will be disbursed over one year.The Unam Human Rights and Documentation Centre for Support to Traditional Leaders received N$380 000.It will hold workshops on customary law and the human rights gap in gender issues.The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) received N$570 000 for its 2008 conservancy support programme.The Electoral Commission of Namibia received a N$665 000 grant for the training of voter education officers to ensure democratic and credible elections.The Community Education Computer Society of Namibia (CECS) received N$617 500 for computer training for teachers.Finland granted N$380 000 for next year’s first-ever Namibian women’s summit.The organisation Women’s Solidarity Namibia received N$332 500 to strengthen the movement against violence through transformation, networking and peace building in Namibia.N$665 000 was given to the Namibia Tourism Board to enable previously disadvantaged tourism entrepreneurs to attend the Matka 2008 Travel Fair in Helsinki, Finland, next month.The honorary consulate of Finland in Walvis Bay received N$380 000 to support the planning and preparation of a Contract Labour and Apartheid Museum in the old ‘compound’ at the harbour town.A grant of N$95 000 was given to the organisers of the 2008 Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival.”The fund supports initiatives of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), Government and other institutions in Namibia.”The objective of the fund is to complement other Finnish development efforts – with an overall aim of alleviating widespread poverty.In Namibia, activities that aim at strengthening and diversifying the relations between Finnish and Namibian organisations and institutions can also be supported,” Kinni-Huttunen added.The Fund is divided into four components, being institutional and trade linkages, civil society development, democracy, human rights, gender equality and strengthening local cultural identity.The fourth category is social equality, which includes support for the disabled, indigenous minorities, children and other vulnerable groups.The traditional Finnish bilateral development co-operation with Namibia is being phased out, and promotion of institutional linkages between public and private institutions, NGOs and CBOs in Namibia and Finland will thus become a priority.Increased linkages in trade and investment are encouraged, but projects promoting cultural and educational co-operation can also be supported.Support can also be given to projects that aim at strategically supporting the economic sector in Namibia, like small and medium enterprises (SMEs).The N$4 million grants for the nine projects will be disbursed over one year.The Unam Human Rights and Documentation Centre for Support to Traditional Leaders received N$380 000.It will hold workshops on customary law and the human rights gap in gender issues.The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) received N$570 000 for its 2008 conservancy support programme.The Electoral Commission of Namibia received a N$665 000 grant for the training of voter education officers to ensure democratic and credible elections.The Community Education Computer Society of Namibia (CECS) received N$617 500 for computer training for teachers.Finland granted N$380 000 for next year’s first-ever Namibian women’s summit.The organisation Women’s Solidarity Namibia received N$332 500 to strengthen the movement against violence through transformation, networking and peace building in Namibia.N$665 000 was given to the Namibia Tourism Board to enable previously disadvantaged tourism entrepreneurs to attend the Matka 2008 Travel Fair in Helsinki, Finland, next month.The honorary consulate of Finland in Walvis Bay received N$380 000 to support the planning and preparation of a Contract Labour and Apartheid Museum in the old ‘compound’ at the harbour town.A grant of N$95 000 was given to the organisers of the 2008 Wild Cinema Windhoek International Film Festival.