The Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM) has begun implementing projects under its N$4.2 million Local Authorities Support Programme. 

It started with a strategic management workshop aimed at strengthening governance and planning in councils across the country.

The funding was raised during NIPAM's inaugural Prime Minister's Annual Charity Foundation gala dinner earlier this year to support under-resourced public institutions, particularly local authorities requiring governance, planning and technical assistance.

NIPAM Communications Manager Johannes Hatutale says the workshop marks the first step in ensuring the funding translates into improved institutional capacity and better service delivery.

"The N$4.2 million raised through the Prime Minister's Annual Charity Foundation Gala Dinner is being invested in strengthening local authorities. This strategic management workshop is one of the first interventions to equip councils with the planning and governance skills needed to deliver services more effectively."

The five-day workshop, running from 29 June to 3 July, brings together local authority officials for practical training in strategic planning, performance management, systems thinking and corporate scorecard development.

Participants will also receive hands-on training in stakeholder analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and aligning strategic and annual plans with national development priorities to improve governance and service delivery.