Namibia - Our Backgound
 

There has, however, been strong political support from the government in planning for HIV/AIDS. The National AIDS Control Programme was launched in 1990 shortly after independence and several national strategic plans have been developed since then. A five-year National Strategic framework agreed in 2009 provides an enabling environment for local responses to HIV/AIDS. The natiional decentralization policy calls for regionally-based HIV/AIDS activities. A number of municipal impact assessments have been carried out with support from USAID and UNDP.

AMICAALL Namibia, comprises all 54 urban local authorities. The programme has facilitated establishment of:

  • HIV/AIDS workplace policies and programmes in 15 municipalities;

  • advocacy training and leadership development for local authority leaders and officials to enhance planning,

  • implementation and monitoring capacity;

  • HIV and AIDS impact assessments in 10 municipalities and Community Capacity Enhancement (CCE) programme in 23 local communities to inform planning, with 13 new roll outs in the past year

Integration of AMICAALL programmes under one HIV/ AIDS strategy with enhanced partnerships, and resource mobilization are key priorities of AMICAALL Namibia. Membership of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and the CCE programme are important success factors. The factors considered to have contributed to the achievements of AMICAALL Namibia have been membership of the Global Fund CCM, providing networking and partnership opportunities, and the CCE programme as a mechanism to strengthen community participation.

However Namibia was re -classified as high middle income country, making attracting donor funding more difficult. Human and technical resources at AMICAALL Namibia are insufficient to implement all the desired programmes.
 
Namibia National Chapter of The Alliance launched in November 2001
 

In November 2001, the Namibian Chapter of the Alliance was launched with support from the Association for Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN), and a public declaration issued and endorsed by all 44 local authorities. An AMICAALL action plan was developed in 2002 and activities initiated in 2003.

In 2004, AMICAALL Namibia was awarded funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to undertake the following activities: establishing Municipal HIV Teams, mainstreaming HIV and AIDS into municipal services, and providing towns with materials for awareness raising. During 2005/2006, AMICAALL Namibia expanded city-to-city cooperation with support from the Association of the Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) and its international consulting arm, VNG International. Building on approaches developed by AMICAALL Namibia, VNG International is helping to mobilise human and financial resources through city-to-city cooperation in three Namibian municipalities.

In 2005, a Multi-Purpose Help Centre was built in Otjiwarongo through efforts of the municipality and a coalition of local partners with support from the AMICAALL Namibia, UN APP, STOP AIDS NOW!, VNG International and the Dutch municipality of Heusden. The centre provides a range of social services including support to orphans and vulnerable youth.