River people from 3 countries unite

THE aim of the Every River Has Its People (ERP) project, a transboundary initiative between Namibia, Angola and Botswana, is to improve people’s livelihoods through wealth creation while managing their resources in a sustainable way, says Agriculture Deputy Minister Paul Smit.

Last Friday, the project opened a Basin Craft exhibition at the Omba Gallery in Windhoek, where people from all three countries who live in the Okavango River basin are showcasing their crafts. Opening the exhibition, Smit said handicrafts are one of the ways in which basin residents draw benefits from their natural resources.Smit said the crafts component of the project aims to establish self-managed, viable and sustainable enterprises with community involvement and empowerment from the onset.”It aims to enhance the livelihoods and wellbeing of the Okavango basin craft producers,” said Smit.It also seeks to promote participation in the planning and management of natural resources used in crafts.The three participating countries provide technical support to improve the skills of craftspeople.This training includes craft quality and diversity, resource cultivation and craft grading and marketing.The results of this initiative are captured in a booklet entitled ‘Best Practices Booklet on Craft and HIV-AIDS in the Kavango River Basin’, which was launched at the same occasion on Friday.The project was initially planned to run for a period of three years, from 2000 to 2003, but was subsequently extended for a further three years.In Namibia, ERP activities are co-ordinated by the Namibia Nature Foundation.In Botswana, the Kalahari Conservation Society (KCS) is implementing ERP activities while in Angola it is the Association for Environment Conservation and Integrated Rural Development (Acadir).Other activities of the project are linked to community-based craft development, community-based natural resource management gender, and HIV-AIDS awareness.Opening the exhibition, Smit said handicrafts are one of the ways in which basin residents draw benefits from their natural resources.Smit said the crafts component of the project aims to establish self-managed, viable and sustainable enterprises with community involvement and empowerment from the onset.”It aims to enhance the livelihoods and wellbeing of the Okavango basin craft producers,” said Smit.It also seeks to promote participation in the planning and management of natural resources used in crafts.The three participating countries provide technical support to improve the skills of craftspeople.This training includes craft quality and diversity, resource cultivation and craft grading and marketing.The results of this initiative are captured in a booklet entitled ‘Best Practices Booklet on Craft and HIV-AIDS in the Kavango River Basin’, which was launched at the same occasion on Friday.The project was initially planned to run for a period of three years, from 2000 to 2003, but was subsequently extended for a further three years.In Namibia, ERP activities are co-ordinated by the Namibia Nature Foundation.In Botswana, the Kalahari Conservation Society (KCS) is implementing ERP activities while in Angola it is the Association for Environment Conservation and Integrated Rural Development (Acadir).Other activities of the project are linked to community-based craft development, community-based natural resource management gender, and HIV-AIDS awareness.