ECAP

About the ECAP project
The full name of this project is: “Sustainable use of Namibia’s natural resources: contributing towards enhancing the capacity of future decision makers”. The project is implemented by the DRFN with funding from the Finnish Embassy in Windhoek.

An agreement for funding for the second year of implementation of the project was signed between the Finnish Embassy and the DRFN the 24th of January 2012.

The ECAP project is designed to enhance capacity of decision makers to address sustainable development of Namibia. The present and future decision makers targeted by the four components of this project include: young professionals, managers of local authorities,  rural residents managing their water resources and decision makers on all levels.

Component 1: Capacity building of incipient national and regional level decision makers
The first component of the project involves capacity development of Namibian young professionals and tertiary level students (interns). Young professionals and interns, supported by the project coordinator and experienced mentors will contribute to the management and implementation of the project. The aim is to give the young professionals and interns first-hand experience of project planning, implementation and reporting. Interns will also carry out their own projects within the scope of the E-CAP project, supervised by the project coordinator and the young professionals. Relevant staff members of partner ministries (e.g. field staff of the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination) will also increase their capacity through hands-on involvement in the implementation of project activities.

Component 2: Targeted support to rural decision makers to improve their own water and sanitation management
The second component of the project focuses on targeted support for rural decision makers to improve their own water and sanitation management. Based on the experiences gained during the first year of implementation of the E-CAP project, the focus for the second year will be on assessing viability and acceptance of different dry sanitation systems, to be used in rural areas. This will be done in close cooperation with DWSSC, who is mandated to improve the current sanitation situation in line with the targets set by the Government to reach the Millennium Development Goal of halving the sanitation gap by 2015. Dry sanitation systems that fulfill criteria, defined in cooperation with the DWSSC and in line with the National Sanitation Strategy and relevant new codes of practice, will be implemented following an updated planning and participatory approach developed by E-CAP and based on selection criteria developed with DWSSC. Possible uses of waste material from the dry sanitation systems and other waste generated in rural communities will also be tested based on the new code of practice where waste is consider to be a resource. Willingness to use combined wastes to improve soil fertility and health related aspects are central to this approach. Results from the monitoring and evaluation of the pilot systems will be communicated and discussed with key stakeholders, especially within DWSSC, to inform the formulation and strengthen the implementation of a strategy allowing government to reach the MDG goal to halve the sanitation gap by 2015.

For more information about this component, please click here

Component 3: Team support to Local Authorities to enhance water and sanitation management
The third component of the E-CAP project is aimed at strengthening the ability of local authorities to provide required water supply and sanitation services to its inhabitants. For the second year of the E-CAP project the aim is to focus interventions on one specific local authority. The local authority will be one of the three authorities where the Performance Support Team (PST) approach was first tested during the first year of E-CAP, i.e. Gibeon, Kalkrand or Stampriet. At this local authority, activities will be aimed at assessing and improving the concepts of the PST approach and the Water Demand Management strategy (as outlined in the IWRM plan of Namibia). Sanitation services are integral part of water demand management and WATSAN and will also be addressed. This will be done in close cooperation with the regional council, relevant staff from Directorate of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and the personnel of the local authority. The Water Demand Management strategy, as outlined in the IWRM Plan of Namibia, will be piloted/demonstrated. A central component of this would be to develop and test performance indicators in close cooperation with the staff of the local authority and a performance support team. The project will also continue to work with the three local authorities (Gibeon, Kalkrand and Stampriet), assisting them in finding solutions to their challenges with the vacuum sewer systems, e.g. facilitate the development of a plan of action and involve key stakeholders in government and private sector to fund and implement these solutions. The overall aim is to provide information and guidance to decision makers within government and the parastatal NamWater, contributing towards improved management of local authorities throughout Namibia, based on the findings from the E-CAP project.

Component 4: Informing decision-makers on all levels
The fourth component of the project is focused on information dissemination and capacity development on national to sub-national levels. During the first year of implementation 12 Environmental Updates were compiled for Namibian Parliamentarians. These will be disseminated to Parliament during the second year of the project. In addition to these Updates, information material will be compiled, presenting findings from the implementation of the E-CAP project and the environmental sector in general, and disseminated to key stakeholders on national to sub-national levels, within government and other institutions, and the general public. The information will also be discussed during workshops and focus group discussions to ensure that the information is used and contributes to capacity development of decision makers at all levels.

Downloads
E-CAP Project poster
E-CAP brochure