19.05.2011 - Germany supports qualification of civil engineers - Government Agreements signed today
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| Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany |
|---|---|
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| National Planning Commission |
| Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) |
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| Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) |
GERMANY SUPPORTS QUALIFICATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
Government Agreements signed today
Windhoek, 19 May 2011 – Today Hon. Tom Alweendo, Director General of the National Planning Commission and H.E. Egon Kochanke, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, signed two agreements on Financial and Technical Cooperation between the Republic of Namibia and the Federal Republic of Germany. The agreements of fifteen million Euro (almost 150 million NAD) on grant basis are aimed at skills development through strengthening the education of civil engineers in Namibia. The commitments will be used to co-fund the construction of the new Civil Engineering Faculty of the University of Namibia in Ongwediva as well as to further develop the renowned civil engineering teaching programmes of the Polytechnic of Namibia and the University of Namibia for the Namibian transport sector.
Ambassador Egon Kochanke stressed that the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany was pleased to assist in improving tertiary education in both Namibian universities. He further emphasized at the ceremony that economic strength of a nation is directly correlating with a solid transportation system. Roads which move people and goods safely and efficiently are the key to competitiveness and prosperity the ambassador underlined. Moreover he stressed that roads are fundamental in providing people with access to health services and schools: Access roads thus directly contribute to improve rural livelihoods. In the near future, more civil engineers – educated in Namibia – will probably also contribute to achieving Namibia’s objectives in the road sector more efficiently.
Out of the fifteen million Euro grant, eight are earmarked to co-fund the construction of the new engineering faculty at the Ongwediva Campus of University of Namibia. This component shall be implemented with the support of German financial co-operation by KfW-Entwicklungsbank. Five million Euro are earmarked to develop the teaching programme in civil engineering of the University of Namibia and two million Euro to further support the civil engineering programme of Polytechnic of Namibia. The programme includes amongst others the cooperation with German renowned universities and is aimed at curricular development, establishment of a research and teaching laboratory, student exchange and training of Namibian lecturers. These components shall be implemented with the support of German technical co-operation by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
These commitments are aimed at meeting the increasing skills demand in civil engineering by the Namibian transport sector, specifically by the Roads Authority, the Ministry of Works and Transport and private road contractors.
Transport is one of the focal areas of German-Namibian development co-operation. The co-operation in this focal area encompasses among others the labour-based construction of rural access roads in Northern Namibia, funding of regional transport corridors through financial support to the Road Fund Administration, advisory services to the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Roads Authority, the qualification of civil engineers in cooperation with the University of Namibia and the Polytechnic of Namibia as well as training of SMEs in the area of road construction.
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Enquiries:
German Embassy: Mr. Matthias Hansen, Tel. 061-273102
NPC: Mr. Ned Sibeya, Tel. 061-283-4092
GIZ: Prof. Dr. Heinrich Semar, Tel: 061-222447
KfW: Mr. Sven Neunsinger, Tel: 061-226853
