New Sustainable Development Advisory Council appointed
The environment ministry has appointed a new Sustainable Development Advisory Council, effective from 1 July and until 31 June 2026.The council will be responsible for promoting cooperation and coordination between organs of state, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, the private sector, and funding agencies on environmental issues relating to sustainable development.
They will also advise the environment minister, Pohamba Shifeta, on policy development and management strategies, the protection and use of the environment, and other environmental-related issues, and perform other functions assigned by the minister.
Members appointed to the council are Gloria Simubali, Ruan Henry Bestbier, Petrus Nangolo, Sylvester Mbangu, Peter Tarr, Mahongo Haironga, Atna Bam, Graca Bauleth D’Almeida and Timoteus Mufeti.
Challenges identified
The eight-member council was inaugurated in 2015 by Shifeta as an advisory body to the minister.
The council has, however, faced numerous operational challenges in the past, among them finances and a lack of awareness of the council.
According to the council’s 2020–2021 annual report, while specific challenges were also faced during the reporting period, the situational analysis carried out as part of the development of the council’s five-year strategic plan helped identify the council’s main challenges.
The council said during the previous financial year it experienced inadequate financial and human resources, weak partnership arrangements and stakeholder relations.
It said inadequate financial and human resources – the low budget allocation to the council and lack of full-time staff members dedicated to the secretariat – are challenges to the effective operation of the council.
"However, the development and implementation of the resource mobilisation strategy are expected to lead to improving the council’s resource and financial support base to be able to fund its future activities and endeavours. The lack of full-time secretariat staff remains a challenge," reads the report.
The council also claimed that the effects of Covid-19 made it more difficult for it to perform its official duties.