THE United Nations Development Programme launched a Namibian online hub to track and discuss the development goals of the country.
The online hub aims to share information on progress on the implementation of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG) in Namibia.
SDGs are the 17 goals set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly to be achieved by 2030.
Some of the goals include eliminating poverty and hunger, achieving gender equality, providing clean water and sanitation to all and to take action in the climate crisis.
The UNDP resident representative to Namibia, Alka Bhatia, announced on Friday that the online platform would serve as a hub for conversations among Namibians.
“We wanted a platform for engagement,” Bhatia said.
According to the UNPD, the Namibia SDG hub aims to find new approaches to tackle the challenges preventing Namibia from achieving its development goals
She further said the online platform was created for Namibians living and working within regular communities to ask questions and share experiences.
Information on various projects in different Namibian communities is also shared on the online platform.
Some of these projects include the Zaveda Fishery Products, which is a Namibian female-driven fish processing company, Kapuka’s Family Farming (situated at Eeawa village near Etunda), and the Bicycling Empowerment Network Namibia, which aims to empower disadvantaged Namibians by providing them with sustainable transport and bicycle-related income generation opportunities.
Bhatia added that a mobile version of the website is available. However, they are still finding ways to spread the information to those living without an internet connection.
According to the UNDP, different methods of working towards SDGs, with their different results, can be shared to “foster a common understanding across national stakeholders”.
The online hub can also be used by citizens to not only track the progress of the SDGs, but also to identify any gaps within communities.
The UNDP also said the aim of the launch was to introduce the hub to all UN agency’s stakeholders, civil society, academia, the private sector, the media and all other potential users.
During the launch, guests were led through a maze, which represents the struggle of achieving the SDGs, to three different rooms.
One room hosted a conversation café where guests could discuss any views on the SDGs, while another room hosted a presentation on the online platform and how it can be used. The last room housed several blank canvases for guests to paint what the SDGs mean to them.
UNDP deputy resident representative to Namibia, Armstrong Alexis said he hoped the maze and the different rooms were able to inspire the audience.
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