Understanding Namibia

Understanding Namibia
Author: Henning Melber
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2015-01-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 0190257628

Since independence in 1990, Namibia has witnessed only one generation with no memory of colonialism - the 'born frees', who voted in the 2009 elections. The anti-colonial liberation movement, SWAPO, dominates the political scene, effectively making Namibia a de facto one-party state dominated by the first 'struggle generation'. While those in power declare their support for a free, fair, and just society, the limits to liberation are such that emancipation from foreign rule has only been partially achieved. Despite its natural resources Namibia is among the world's most unequal societies and indicators of wellbeing have not markedly improved for many among the former colonized majority, despite a constitution enshrining human rights, social equality, and individual liberty. This book analyses the transformation of Namibian society since Independence. Melber explores the achievements and failures and contrasts the narrative of a post-colonial patriotic history with the socio-economic and political realities of the nation-building project. He also investigates whether, notwithstanding the relative stability prevailing to date, the negotiation of controlled change during Namibia's decolonization could have achieved more than simply a change of those in control.

The Land Governance Assessment Framework

The Land Governance Assessment Framework
Author: Klaus Deininger
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 169
Release: 2012
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0821387588

Increased global demand for land posits the need for well-designed country-level land policies to protect long-held rights, facilitate land access and address any constraints that land policy may pose for broader growth. While the implementation of land reforms can be a lengthy process, the need to swiftly identify key land policy challenges and devise responses that allow the monitoring of progress, in a way that minimizes conflicts and supports broader development goals, is clear. The Land Governance Assessment Framework (LGAF) makes a substantive contribution to the land sector by providing a quick and innovative tool to monitor land governance at the country level. The LGAF offers a comprehensive diagnostic tool that covers five main areas for policy intervention: Legal and institutional framework; Land use planning, management and taxation; Management of public land; Public provision of land information; and Dispute resolution and conflict management. The LGAF assesses these areas through a set of detailed indicators that are rated on a scale of pre-coded statements (from lack of good governance to good practice). While land governance can be highly technical in nature and tends to be addressed in a partial and sporadic manner, the LGAF posits a tool for a comprehensive assessment, taking into account the broad range of issues that land governance encompasses, while enabling those unfamiliar with land to grasp its full complexity. The LGAF will make it possible for policymakers to make sense of the technical levels of the land sector, benchmark governance, identify areas that require further attention and monitor progress. It is intended to assist countries in prioritizing reforms in the land sector by providing a holistic diagnostic review that can inform policy dialogue in a clear and targeted manner. In addition to presenting the LGAF tool, this book includes detailed case studies on its implementation in five selected countries: Peru, the Kyrgyz Republic, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Tanzania.

The United Nations in Namibia

The United Nations in Namibia
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 24
Release: 2003
Genre: Economic assistance
ISBN:

"This publication presents a briefing on the programme of activites that the UN, as technical co-operation partner with the Government of Namibia, will implement for the period 2002-2005 ... The first part of the publication highlights the UN common objectives and activities and the instruments and mechanisms in place through which the UN System as a whole, in partnership with the government, civil society, donors and the private sector, strives towards the achievement of the two strategic objectives, poverty and inequality reduction and HIV/AIDS containment. The second part, in loose-leaf format (project profiles), is a synopsis of the projects of most of the UN programme and/or funding agencies present in the countries"--Foreword.