More Development Planners Needed in Namibia

As a student who is currently on the verge of completing a bachelor’s degree in regional and rural development at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), it’s becoming a concern that only one institution offers this course here in Namibia and only few people are aware of this course’s assistance.

We are all aware that Namibia is mostly made up of rural areas (approximately 60%), meaning more development planners are needed in this country to tackle this issue and develop our areas or regions into urban areas.

As years passed, I learnt a lot about planning and not just any planning, but planning for effective sustainable planning, planning on a bottom-up approach and community participation planning, etc.

In addition, I learnt about an approach that can help us to develop our rural areas which is participatory rural appraisals (PRA). This is an extended process of collecting data used in planning future actions. PRA occurs on process of involving community in planning and decision making.

Therefore, I believe one way to enhance rural community development, especially in Namibia, is by practicing this approach (PRA) as this method involves working together within the community or the affected and interested stakeholders towards community development with an aim of “nobody must feel left out” as our current President says.

It is through participation that people rethink problems and expand contacts and networks, build social capital and also learn new skills, build human capital etc.

Furthermore, they will develop new economic options, build physical and financial capital and also improve their environment. So I encourage all government institutions, NGOs, private sectors and fellow pupils/students to recognise this field of study and raise awareness in cases of offered scholarships to students to study regional and rural development.

They should also make ways for employment to this field as I see it’s a course in high demand in a developing country such as Namibia. In order to reach Vision 2030, we need more development planners. Thanks to NUST for doing its part and for the introduction of this course.