A programme aimed at strengthening Namibia's policy and legal framework for sustainable wildlife management and improving access to legal information for stakeholders was launched in Windhoek.
The programme is an online platform that will provide access to legal information on wildlife management while improving food security and livelihoods for communities that depend on natural resources.
The programme also seeks to address challenges related to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and illegal wildlife trade.
According to Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel, the programme also has the potential to enhance and modernise the country's national legal ecosystem.
"It serves as a comprehensive and integrated platform covering key areas such as wildlife management, hunting, land tenure, and animal health. In doing so, it reflects a holistic national approach to sustainable wildlife management."
Deputy Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Theresia Brandt urged users to "use the Legal Hub to interact and flag our legal challenges and gaps in our existing legislation on wildlife protection. In doing so, we will be able to champion legal reforms to ensure that Namibia's domestic laws remain robust and compliant with international treaties."
According to the Assistant Representative at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in Namibia, Ferdinard Mwapopi, "The SWM Legal Hub is an important tool for finding solutions for these challenges through strengthening policy and legal frameworks, including their effective implementation. The Namibia Legal Hub provides access to all policies, legislation, and guidelines relevant to natural resource management."
The SWM Programme is a global flagship implemented in 16 countries, and it is implemented through the funding of the French Development Agency and the European Union.
In Namibia, the programme operates in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), where it supports 13 community conservancies and will benefit about 40,000 people.
The Executive Director of the KAZA TFCA Secretariat, Dr. Nyambe Nyambe, articulated the vision for the legal hubs. "Our vision at KAZA is that once these national legal hubs are all in place, we can then have what is going to be called the KAZA legal hub, essentially to advance what I am talking about here in terms of informing and guiding decision-making and guiding action."
Dr. Ben Heermans, the Coordinator of the SWM Programme Namibia Site, said, "In every country we work on two areas: we work at a ground level with partnering communities and at a national level with government to promote legal and institutional reform support for sustainable wildlife management and natural resources."
Also speaking at the launch was Steffi Renaud, Investment Officer at the French Development Agency (AFD), who shared that "AFD is proud to contribute to this effort with a commitment of US$3.5 million to the SWM programme, including US$1.5 million dedicated to Namibia. This investment reflects France's commitment to sustainability and partnership with the nation and the EU."