SPAN's Achievements
Improved Systematic Capacity Provides Enabling Flamework for Enhancing Protected Area Management
Sandpaper
Sandpaper is a magazine for the Directorate of Parks and Wildlife. The name was chosen as it aims at soothing the way forward for protected area management in Namibia.
Staff contribute articles and photographs to the publication, which is widely distributed throughout Namibia and is available on the MET website. Sandpaper has won a prestigious HAN EcoAward for excellence. read more...
Park Talk
Park Talk is a bi-monthly talk and discussion session dedicated to Namibia's national parks and their management. Various experts are invited to address the public on a range of topics. A partnership with the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre has ensured that a cosy venue is available. Talks attract audiences of up to 160 people.See a List of Past Park Talks
Institutional Capacity for PA Management are Strengthened resulting in more effective use of Financial & Human Resources
Field Awards
The presentation of awards, introduced in 2007 as part of the Etosha Centenary Celebrations, is a highlight of the MET's calendar year. They serve to recognise exceptional achievements by staff as nominated by their colleagues.
SPAN worked with the Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management to introduce the Awards as incentives for field staff. read more...
Financial and Administrative Systems Transformation (FAST)
The FAST team was launched by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at a workshop at Rock Lodge in September 2008. The team defined the following goals for themselves:
Deconcentrated Budget Control
Efficient, effective Procurement
Radically improved Fleet Management
Revenue Collection
Communication
read more...
Human Resources Transformation (HRT)
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), through the SPAN Project, aims to strengthen management effectiveness of parks for biodiversity conservation and for unleashing benefits from parks to the local and regional economy.
One of the major inhibiting factors for effective park management has been the MET's sub-optimal human resource management system characterized by weak human resource planning, the lack of a performance management system weakening the accountability of individual staff, ineffective training programmes and lack of incentive mechanisms aimed at motivating staff to perform better and the lack of an HIV and AIDS Policy to mitigate the possible negative impact of HIV and AIDS on human resource planning and management.
It is for this reason that the MET/SPAN Project sought the services of a Human Resource Transformation Adviser (HRTA) to focus on the improvement and upgrading of the Ministry's human resource management systems and activities, with a particular emphasis on improving park management. read more...
HEWG
The core mandate of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism is focused on the sustainable utilization of the Namibian natural resources and the protection of biodiversity. In recent years there has been growing consensus within the Ministry that there is a need to demonstrate the same level of zeal with which it protects the natural resources to the protection and care for its human resources to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on its staff.
It is with this understanding that the Ministry together with Botswana Ministry established the HIV/AIDS - Environment Working Group (HEWG). The working group is supported by the key stakeholders of the Ministry such as the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), UNDP, UNAIDS, Ministry of Health and Social Services and the National Planning Commission (NPC). The main purpose of the HEWG is to work towards healthy ecosystems and healthy people at the landscape level.
Park Innovation Grant (PIG)
The PIG was established to create a small reservoir of funds that can be accessed by MET Park and other field staff with good ideas on how to improve the management of parks and protect biodiversity. The scheme served as an easily accessible source of funding that enabled MET staff to directly contribute to SPAN project objectives and ensure ownership of the project. The total amount budgeted for grants was N$ 100 000.00 a year. The maximum amount of a single grant was N$25,000.00. read more...
Protected Areas Management Know-How is expanded and reinforced through innovative field management demonstration
Demonstration Sites
Etosha/Skeleton Coast Link Demo Site
This demo site provided unique opportunities for demonstrating the creation of protected area networks including State, private and communal area conservation initiatives. It targeted efforts to link the Etosha and Skeleton Coast parks, concessions and community-managed areas in Kunene Region.
SPAN activities aimed at building capacity to manage the expanded protected area. read more...
Bwabwata-Mudumu-Mamili Complex Demo Site
The Mudumu North and South Complexes was established as a joint management forum between the National Parks and adjoining conservancies and community forests. SPAN in partnership with MET, IRDNC, WWF, NNF has provided technical support to the MET staff and community members involved in these two forums. read more...
Southern Demo Sites
There are two demonstration sites under the Southern Parks: The Sperrgebiet National Park and the /Ai-/Ais Hotsprings Game Park. Under the Sperrgebiet National Park, the demo-site objective was the creation and effective management of the Sperrgebiet through a multi-sectoral management system involving mining companies, MME, regional council and non-governmental organisations. The objective of the /Ai-/Ais demo-site was to ensure effective functioning of a transfrontier park, providing economies of scale in the administration of PA management functions and improved conservation status. read more...
Other Achievements
Concessions
For several decades, the State has granted tourism and other concessions within Namibia. These have varied considerably: some existed on State land in proclaimed protected areas and on State communal land. So too have the activities and terms varied. No uniform policy framework existed to guide their selection and development. read more...
PIR
The Global Environment Facility requires all projects, including the SPAN Project. to complete an annual project review, known as a Project Implementation Report (PIR). The PIR lists progress on activities and rates their implementation progress towards meeting development objectives. These are then scored by the project coordinator, UNDP Country office staff, National Project Director and UNDP Regional Office staff.
SPAN was rated "Highly Satisfactory" in 2008 and "Satisfactory" in 2009 and 2010. These ratings indicate that the Project is expected to achieve most of its global environmental objectives and yield satisfactory global environmental benefits with only minor shortcomings. They show SPAN's great strides towards implementing activities and yielding required outputs and outcomes.