the role of universities in participatory informal settlement...

Integrated Land Management Institute (ILMI) Land, Livelihoods and Housing Programme 2015-18

The Integrated Land Management Institute is a centre of the Faculty of Natural Resources Spatial Sciences (FNRSS) at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) committed to develop reputable and multidisciplinary research and public outreach activities in the field of land, administration, property, architecture and spatial planning.

The Land, Livelihoods and Housing Programme aims at deepening and expanding the focus on these three key issues in Namibia. The programme was developed to guide ILMI’s activities by organising it in four aspects: institutional, environmental, fiscal and spatial processes.

The role of universities in participatory informal settlement upgrading: experiences from Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, and Zambia.

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SUMMARY

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Document No. 1/2017 Date: July 2017

WORKSHOP REPORT The role of universities in informal settlement upgrading

ILMI Document Note 1/2017 Page 1

ABOUTTHISREPORTThis report was compiled by Guillermo Delgado, from the Namibia University of Science andTechnology; with comments from Baraka Mwau, from University of Nairobi; Hafisa Namuli, fromACTogetherinUganda;andDrWilmaNchito,fromtheUniversityofZambia.Thefullprogrammeofthethree-dayworkshopcanbefoundinAnnexure1.ThefulllistofattendantsandtheircontactdetailscanbefoundinAnnexure2.

CASESDISCUSSED

Namibia Kenya Zambia Uganda

Entity NamibiaUniversityofScienceandTechnology.

UniversityofNairobi,CentreforUrbanResearchandInnovation(CURI)-anchoredattheDepartmentofUrbanandRegionalPlanning.

UniversityofZambia.

MakerereUniversity.

Nameof

Programme

Community

studiosinGobabis

Planningfor

inclusiveurban

developmentin

Kitui,Kenya

Negotiatingthe

interfacebetween

formaland

informalspaces

forinclusiveand

pro-poorcity

development

KnowyourCity,

Planyour

settlement

Programme

base

DepartmentofArchitectureandSpatialPlanning;DepartmentofLandandPropertySciences.

CURI.Thereissomedepartmentalengagement–amongtheparticipatingstudentsareselectedfromthedepartment.Generally,it’seasiertorunthisthroughcentresespeciallywhenitbecomesdifficulttoalignthiskindofstudiowithregularsemesterschedule.

DepartmentofGeographyandEnvironmentalStudies,basedonSchoolofNaturalSciences.

SchoolofBuiltEnvironment,TechnologyandArt.

Policy/

objectives

Cooperativeeducation,‘Learningbydoing’.

Addressingurbaninformalityinbothacademiaandpractice;makingplanningworkbytakingplanningtothelowestlevel,anduptothepolicylevel.

Highlighttherealityofinformalsettlements;producecapacityforMinistryandlocalauthorities.

None




Disciplines TownandRegionalPlanning;Architecture.

Architects;Landscapearchitecture;Urbanplanning.Thisischallenging,butquiteusefulinpromotinginterdisciplinarylearning.

Geographers;PhysicalPlanners;Sociologists;Architects(rare);Engineers(notcurrently).

Architects(notveryforthcoming);PhysicalPlanners;Surveyors.

Duration Semestercourses Threesemesters(1.5years)

2-years(fulltime) Initially3-yearprogramme,then4-year

Evaluation Continuousassessment,atleast6assessmentsrequired.

Nouniversitycredits,studentsgetcertificatesfromtheCentre.

Studentsgetgradesfordifferentaspectsofthestudio;therearebriefswithactivitiestheyhavetocomplete;finalsubmissionistheSpatialDevelopmentFramework(SDF).

Studentsgetagradefromsupervisors(2)whoareengagedwiththeorganisations;supervisorsjointheminthefield,studentshavelogbooksthatneedtobesignedoffbysupervisors

Degrees Undergraduate.BachelorofTownandRegionalPlanning(2semesterproject:“communitybasedprojects”)

Undergraduate.DegreesofferedatthePlanningDepartment:GraduatedegreeinPlanning(B.A.Planning);MastersinPlanning(M.APlanning).

Postgraduate.MSc.SpatialPlanning

Undergraduate.BachelorofUrbanandRegionalPlanningDiplomaonUrbanandRegionalPlanning(offeredbyInstituteofSurveyandLandManagement).

Student

engagement

Courseandinternships.

Internship,withexpensescovered.

Courseonly. Course,butstudentsclassifiedas‘interns’;universitywouldcapturesomeofthesefunds.

Modality Studio. Studio(amixof:fieldwork,technicalworkingsessions,andinstructorsessions).

Studioarticulatingthreedifferentcontexts:localarea,cityregionandregional.

Studio;theoryinclassinfirst2years,thenfieldwork.

Work

modality

Individualandgroup.

GroupWorkandIndividualwork.

Groupworkandindividualwork.Presentations,longpapers,reports.

Groupwork.




Topic Open,onlyrequirementistobeexposedtocommunities.

Integrated:researchmethods,integratedplanning,participatorymapping,participatorydesign,infrastructure,housing,communitydevelopment,andLocalEconomicDevelopment.

Topicsdependonlecturers.

Topicsareselectedbysupervisorsbeforehand;topicscanruninparallel,butemphasisoncommunityplanning.

Partners SDFN;LocalAuthorities;AssociationofAfricanPlanningSchools(AAPS);CitiesAlliance.

University/Centre(CURI);NGO(SDI-Kenya);Countygovernment(Kitui);CBOs&CommunityLeaders.Thisstructureenhancespartnershipsandcollaborations,butittakestimetobuildandsometimestendstoprolongplannedschedules.

AAPS;SDImember(requiredbyAAPScurriculum);Localcouncil(requiredbyAAPScurriculum).

AAPS;ACTogether.

Examplesof

topics

Communityagriculture.

Publicspace,mobility,localeconomies,affordablehousing,basicservices.

Planningin-situ;mobility;retailandtrade.

Housing,openspaces,communityplanning.

Geography Alloverthecountry.

Secondarycity. Settlementdecidedinpartnershipwiththelocalcouncil.

Alloverthecountry.

Years From2012. 2015-7. From2013. Around2000s.




Challenges Uncertaintyoftopic;TimeframesCommunityprocessrhythmsvs.academiccalendar(exams,recesses);Responsivenessfromuniversity,can’tbetooquick;Communityengagementrequirescouncilapproval,whichcantakelong(e.g.6monthsinGobabis,10yearsinWindhoek).

Universitycalendars,consideringtheprocessrunsthroughyearswithinasemester-basedsystem;Finalyearforstudentsisthemoredemandingone,whichdoesn’tnecessarilycoincidewiththeneedsofprocess;Insufficientfundstopilotactualprojectsontheground(thisisimportantforsustainingfuturecommunityengagement).

Councilchanges;workgoes‘backtoscratch’,buy-inislost;Entryintosettlementsduetopoliticalclimate(moredifficultduringelectiontime)

Academiccalendars;Engagementwitharchitects;Landownershipinprivatehands.

Curriculum

change

process

status

Currentlybuiltinthecurriculum.Recentprogrammereview(2016),wherecommunityengagementisencouraged.Upto20%ofthecurriculumcanbechangedwithouttheneedforapproval.

Curriculumchangeisnotnecessarilythemainobjective,ratheristoinfluenceexistingcurriculumthroughstudiosandteachingcontenttofocusonurbaninformality.

Yes,throughAAPSprocess.Requiredforthedevelopmentofnewlegislativechanges.

Partoftheuniversityprocess,howeverinstitutionalisationoftheprocessistakinglong;notyetthere.

Funding

source

AAPSsincemid2015;CitiesAlliance(accommodation,food).

AAPS;CitiesAlliance.

MinistryofLocalGovernment;AAPS;CitiesAlliance;SDI.Supportwentforfood,transport,computers,printers,furniture.

AAPS;Fundingthroughtuitionrebates;SocialTenureDomainModel(STDM).Supportedwentforfood,accommodation,transport.

University

contribution

Transport,althoughcurrentlynotfavourablefundingoutlook.

NoadditionalfinancialcontributionfromtheUniversity,butthedepartmentofferedalecturertoinstructthestudentteam.

Lecturers’salaries,teachingspace.

Supportforlecturers(allowances).




Interaction

between

disciplines

Gradualinsertionofdisciplinesthroughoutthesemesters.

Abitchallengingforcommunicationbetweendisciplines(perhapssomethingtodowiththe‘silo-approach’totrainingofplanners,architectsetc.).However,thestudiomanagedtoachievegoodcommunicationbetweenstudentsandcommunitymembers.

It’sopentostudentsfromalldisciplines;withregardstobringinglecturersfromdifferentdisciplines,isstillinprocess.

Desirable,butstillachallenge.

Provision

for

community

participation

Participation,mandatoryforlanddeliveryprocedures;however,nonationalpolicyonparticipation.

InKenya,participationislegislatedinanumberofwaysonvariouslawssuchasCountyGovernmentsActandtheUrbanAreasandCitiesAct,butnoclarityonthenatureofparticipation.Everytown,a‘citizenforum’issupposedtobecreated.

Notrequiredfortheprocess,thestudiohastheobjectivetochangeparadigmsthroughitsactions.

Yes,atconstitutionallevel.

Proposals Shortcourses;RegionalCouncilsaspartofthestudioprocess;Verticalstudios;Coordinated/planned‘handover’ofstudiosemesterbysemester.

ContinuousprofessionaldevelopmentcanbeofferedforLAs,lecturers,andinterestedparties;Linkwithprofessionalassociationsandthepracticeingeneral,isimportantforplanningschools;Seminarseriesandforumsareimportantindisseminatingacademicresearch(includingoutcomesofcommunitystudios)forpolicyuptake/consideration.

Gettinglecturersfromotherdisciplinestofinalpresentationsofcourses.

Publiclecturesthatteachtoeveryone.




Outlook Fundingshortageswillreduceinterventionstothecapitalcity,whichiswheretheuniversityislocated.Verticalstudiosabouttotakeplace.

Researchfundingisdecreasing-especiallyfromgovernments;hence,theneedtoenhancepartnershipsthathelpuniversitiesandpartnersinattractingalternativefundingresourcesspeciallytosupport‘change-making’researchsuchas‘urbaninformalitystudios’.

EngagementwithZambiaInstituteofPlanners;Creationofshortcoursesforcommunityandlocalgovernment(localareapanning,GIS,researchmethods,monitoringandevaluation).

Tryingtomaketheprocessincreasinglymulti-disciplinary;Socialworkers,involvedintheprocess;SigningofMoU’swithtechnicalinstitutionstosensitiseofcommunityprocesses.

Common

points

• Priorityforstudentsisthepassingmarkinalltheircourses,whichsometimeconflictwitheffortrequiredbyprocess.

• Sympatheticpoliticalleaders(e.g.councillors)arenotalwaysthere,andchangesinlocalauthority’scouncil,theexperienceandpoliticalsupportis‘lost’.

• Piecemealapproachtoinformalsettlementupgradingprocess-theneedtoup-scaleappropriately,dependingoncontext.

• Institutionalisationofpartnershipsiscrucial.

• InthecasesofZambiaandKenya,universityCentreshavearoleinthefacilitationoftheprocess;theycanhelpovercomeacademiccalendarlimitations.

• Ethicalconsiderationsofuniversity’sinvolvementincommunityprocessesarefundamental,particularlytomanagecommunities’expectations.

• Architectsaregenerallydifficulttoengage,thereisadisconnectwiththeneedsofthecountry.

• Atthesametime,architectsaremoreimplementation-oriented;theirpushforactualrealisationofplansisimportantintheseprocesses.

• Shortcoursesaredesirable,theyshouldtargetlocalauthorities,communitymembers,NGOstaff,andotherstakeholders.

• Ifthereisanationalmandateforparticipatoryprocedures,communitystudioscantapintothat.



COUNTRY-SPECIFICCONTRIBUTIONS

Uganda

Planningprocessisrequiredtobeparticipatorybyconstitutionaldecree.However,itisnotprescribedwhoundertakesthisprocess.Whenit’scommunity-driven,itismoreparticipatoryinnature;ifit’sagovernmentinitiative,it’smoreofaconsultativeprocess.Therationaleisinpartduetothedifficultyforimplementationwithoutcommunity’sunderstandingofthenatureoftheplan.Resources,bothwithregardstotimeandmoney,impacttheextentofparticipation.Therearemunicipalforums,settlementforums,andaForumsDivision.Thereis‘communitycontracting’,aformofsmall-scaleprojectssub-contractedtocommunitygroups(e.g.wastecollection,publicsanitation).Architectstendto‘lookdown’onotherdisciplines,suchasplanning;noteasytoengagewiththem.However,inthepast,architectsweremuchmoreengagedthanplanners;theywerepushingforchange.Studentsgettoteachcommunitymembershowtousetechnicaldevices,andcommunityteacheshowtointeractwiththem.Communitymembersweredesigningtheproject,studentswouldprovidetechnicalsupporttomakepossibletheproposals.Publiclecturesattheuniversityopentothevariousstakeholdershavebeenorganised,andtheyhavehadpositiveeffects.Namibia

Councildecisionstakeaminimumof2months.Adecisioncannotberatifiedinthesamemeeting.NALAO’sfocusisontheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDG),particularlySDG11;andtheNewUrbanAgenda(NUA).ThisprocessisinitiatedfromtheLocalAuthorities’CEOsoffice,supportedbytechnicalsupportstaff.ALocalGovernmentreformisonthetable,whichwouldberestructuredundertheSDGsandNUA.ThenewUrbanandRegionalPlanningBillisalsosoontobetabled.NALAOandLocalAuthoritieshavethefacultiestoinfluencelegislation.MoUbetweenNHAG/SDFNandtheAssociationofLocalAuthoritiesofNamibia(ALAN)andNALAO,willassistinopeningdoorsfortheinfluenceoflegislationrepresentingshack-dwellers’interest.Therewerealsoattemptstochangespatialform,butthereiscommunity’sresistance.InNamibiainthe1980stherewereattemptstochangementalconceptionsofwhat‘ahouse’canbe,and1:1modelswerebuilttoexercisespatialimagination,buttheydidn’thavethedesiredeffect.InNamibia,thelegalstatusofthepracticeinfluencestheprofessionaloutlookofyoungprofessionals.Theexpectationofhighincomesdetersfromengagementinmoresocialundertakings.Zambia

AAPSproposedacurriculumtobepiloted,andZambiawasreadytoundertaketheprocess.Theyconsultedthiswithlocalcouncilsandgovernmentlevels.Theproposalwassentforapproval,anditwasapprovedin2013.NewlawrequiredtheformulationofIntegratedDevelopmentPlans(IDP),buttherewerenotmanytrainedtodothis;thenewcurriculumincludedthis,thereforetheMinistrysupportedthis.Supportallowedforcomputerequipment,aswellastransport(bus).Settlementstoworkwitharedecidedinpartnershipwiththelocalcouncil;thisfacilitatesengagementascouncilhasalreadypresenceinthesettlement.Students’proposalsareevaluatedbycommunitymembers;studentshavetoeffectthechangesrequiredbytheinputgiven.Studentsproduceaplan,andfinalpresentationofstudentsistotheMayor,councilmembers,andotherstakeholders.Throughtraining,communityhaslearnedhowtouseGPS,whichincreaseslegitimacyoftheinformationwithinthecommunity.Theuniversityassistsinmappinginformalsettlements,asLAsdon’talwayshavecapacitytodothis.



Theobjectiveofscalingupislimitedbytheacademiccalendarframe.CentreforUrbanResearchandPlanning(CURP)hasbeeninstrumentalindealingwiththisandotherchallenges.Itisnotpossiblefortheuniversitytodoallthework,butitispossibletoscale-up.Coursesinthecentreare2-3weekslong,thisrepresentsalsoastreamofincomefortheinstitution.Itisimportanttoconsiderthedegreesofparticipation,aswellastheresourceslimitationsforthis.UN-HabitatdidaParticipatorySlumUpgradingProgramme(PSUP)projectinZambia,whichhadparticipationatthecore.However,Phase1oftheprojectdidn’thaveeffectevenafterconsiderablefundswereinvestedinthis.Thisphasewasnotparticularlyregardedasparticipatory.Governmentdefinitionofparticipationleansmoretowardsconsultation,ratherthanco-production.Thecultureofvolunteeringisalsonotaresourcethatonecantapinto.InZambia,architectsaredifficulttoengage;theyareperceivedas‘morecommercial’.Theywouldcontributefortwoweeks,butnolonger;theprocesswouldthencontinuewithouttheircontributions.Architects’socialcommitmentisnotstrong.TheNationalHousingAuthority,isnormallyrunbyarchitectsbutcurrentlytheCEOisalawyer;whenthey‘redevelop’theyimagineprojectsthatresembleelitedevelopmentsandthey’renotparticularlycharacterisedbysocialcommitments.Kenya

Insomecases,afterthecountygovernmentlegislations(theCountyGovernmentsActandUrbanAreasandCitiesAct),therearesituations(e.g.KituiCounty-thestudiolocation)wherethere’snomunicipalitytoengage;onlyaregional(county)government.Thisimpliestheenvisioneddecentralisationatcountylevelisnotyetinplace-especiallyforurbanareas.Thisissimilartoothercountrieswheregovernmentsareyettoestablishappropriatedecentralisedstructuresforbetter(‘direct’)engagementwithcitizens.AmunicipalityBoardisnotyetestablished,itistheUrbanAreasandCitiesActthathasprovisionfor‘citizenforums’,wherethroughtownhallmeetingsthereisanopportunitytodeliberateonbudgetarymatters,structureplans,developmentframeworks,planning,basicservices,etc.However,giventhatamunicipalityBoarddoesn’texist,thisstructureofGovernment-civilsocietyengagementjustexistsonpaper.InKenya(andperhapsinmanyothercountriesintheregion),mosturbanplansareoutsourcedtoprivateconsultants,whodon’talwayshavetimeorresources(financialandhuman)forcommunityparticipation,andtheyoftenresultinundertakingmerecompliancetoparticipation.Forexample,inarecentIntegratedUrbanDevelopmentPlan(IUDP)formulationforKitui(locationofthestudio)theconsultantwasrequiredtoundertakesixstakeholderworkshops,butitisonlytherecords(i.e.attendancelists)thatarerequiredtoindicatethattheworkshopstookplace.Thereislittleemphasisonthequality,outcomes,andhowtheviews/opinionsoftheparticipantsinfluencedorwerefactoredintothefinalproduct,whichistheplan.Thereisalsoacultureof‘allowances’forattendingmeeting,uptoapointinwhichstakeholdermeetingsareonlyattendedwhenallowancesareincluded.Thereisalsoalackofunderstandingbetweendisciplines,e.g.planners,engineers,architects,aswellasbetweenthesedisciplinesandcommunities.Thelevelofabstractionforcommunicatinginworkshops(e.g.lines,codedcolours),doesn’tnecessarilytranslateinanunderstandingofthenatureoftheproject.Besides,thepoliticalnatureofarrivingatplanningdecisionsisoftennotwellapproachedbyprofessionalsortheysimplyarenotpreparedtoengageinnegotiations,mediationandmanagementof‘conflicts’(arisingfromvestedinterests).Participationthenoftenendsupasa‘compliancestrategy’,ratherthananin-depthcommitment.Centrestendtohaveacommonvision;therefore,itiseasierforthemtoundertakespecificprojects.Thecommunitystudioprocesshasmanycontingencies,forwhichNGOsorCentresaremoreabletorespondthanconventionaluniversitysemesterapproach.



Disciplinesrequiredtostrengthenoutcomesofcommunityplanningstudiosincludeurbanplanning,architecture,engineering,urbandesign,sociologists,economists,landadministratorsandenvironmentalists.However,projectsonlyinvolveoneortwodisciplinesdeepeningonscope,althoughit’scriticaltonotethatwhatisdesignedbyprofessionalsdoesn’talwaysresonatewithwhatcommunitiesperceiveasneededand/ordesired.Participatoryprogrammesinvolvecosts,whichbecomeanincreasingchallengewithdecreasingresearchbudget.Thereisalsolackofreferencesfromothercasesincitiesandcountriesintheregion,whichcouldbeduetoinadequatedocumentationofpreviousapproaches.Hence,thereisaneedtostrengthendocumentationanddisseminationofprojectprocessesandoutcomes.Intermsofgraduatesapplyingskillsinpractice,therearenew‘alternativepractices’emerginginKenya;theyareattemptingtopracticedifferentlyfromtheconventionalpractice,butit’sstillmarginal.Thereisaneedto‘buildcommunityofpractice’thatpoolstogetherplanners,architects,andotherdisciplinesengagedwithcommunityplanninganddesign.Instudios,itisalsodifficulttomanageexpectationsofcommunitieswithonlyonedisciplineinvolved.Atsomestage,thedisciplinereacheslimits;forcommunities,a‘professional’meansperhapssomethingbroader.Theethicallimitsofcommunityparticipationaretobeconsideredasoftenstudioraiseunnecessaryexpectationsamongcommunitymembers.Withoutafollow-upprogrammetoimplementsomeoftheoutcomes,itbecomesamereacademicexercisetoconductthisformofprojects.InNamibia,thereseemstobeanemphasison‘landandhousing’;lesssoinlocaleconomiesthatcouldsustaintheurbanenvironmentthatisenvisioned.InKenya,thecityisoftenperceivedasthe‘theplacetoderiveincome’;aneconomicplatform.Hence,avibrantinformaleconomyisthatwhichoffersthose‘left’outintheformaleconomyaformofemployment.Productiveactivitiesareinthestreets/publicspaces(e.g.retailers/vendors,artisanindustrieslikeproductionoffurniture,fittings,windowsetc.).Therefore,amajorplanningchallengeinKenya’scitiesandtownsishowtoplanfor,manageandintegrateinformaleconomicactivities.Amongthenon-conventionalapproachesbeingresearchedbytheCentre(CURI)istohowtoutilisecertainlandreservesforinfrastructureandopenpublicspacesforproductiveactivities(atleastinthemedium-term)whiletheplanneddevelopmenttakesplace;applicationofflexiblestandardsandrethinkingofplanninganddesignisneededforthis.Curriculumchangeisdesirable;however,anothercomponentistheactualcontentofthecourses.Thefocusoncurriculumcouldbecomplimentedwithacoordinatedeffortbetweenfacultiesand/ordepartmentstoengagewithinformalsettlementupgradingprocesses.

INPUTFROMPARTICIPANTS

StudentsfromNUST

• Curriculumchangesarefundamental,asmanyonly‘discover’communityengagementforthefirsttime.

• Volunteeringcanbearesourcetotapinto.

• Architecturestudios,confined;thewaystudentsworkisvery‘dreamy’,ratherthanreality-anchored.

• Students’commitmentisprimarilyontheirdegree,ratherthanwiththecommunityprocessperse.

• Universitiesareonesideofthecollaboration;theotherareprofessionalinstitutionsandpractices.

• Privatefirmsareratherstrictwithinternships,theyneedtobeengagedforthemtobecomemoreaccommodatingtocommunitywork.

• Itisnecessarytore-imaginespatialform,ratherthansimplyassistingincomplyingwithcurrentmodels.



• Senseofculturalidentitycanbestimulatedthroughmodelsandotherdevices,ratherthansimplyworkingwithaerialimages.

• NamibiaUrbanPlanningStudents’Associationhasinitsconstitutiontodocommunitywork,thiscanbeexpanded.

MinistryofUrbanandRuralDevelopment

• Shortcoursesaredesirable.

• Thereisaneedtostrengthenrelationshipwithcountriestolearnfromeachother.

• Informationsharingbetweeninstitutionsisdesirableandcommendable.

• Scaling-upinformalsettlementupgradingisagoodinitiative(individualcomment).

• Certificatesontheshortcoursesandprocesscanincentiviseparticipationintheseprocesses.GobabisMunicipality

• LocalAuthoritiesshouldintensifytheirinvolvementwithcommunities.

• Shortcoursesforcommunitymembersaredesirable:incomegeneratingactivities,trading,planning.

• BeforetheteamsfromothercollaboratorscometoGobabis,thecommunitymembersshouldbereadytoengagewiththeprocess;thisisthejobofLAs.

• WhathappensinFreedomSquareandKanaanisabeginning,and‘ameanstoanend’.

• LinkwithFlexibleLandTenureSystem,sothatitbecomeseventuallyeffective;Gobabiscanpioneersecurityoftenurewiththeassistanceofthis.

• ThereferenceofwhatLUXDevelopmentProjectdidinRunduandKatimaMuliloisagoodprecedentthatwouldbedesirabletoseeelsewhere,withregardstosecurityoftenure.

• DensificationisalsosomethingthatcanbeconsideredinNamibia.

• InternshipsattheMunicipalityarealsodesirable,Gobabisisreviewingthemechanismsforthemtowelcomemoreinterns.

• Gobabishasresortedtointernationalcooperationagencies,suchastheJapaneseone(JICA);thiscanbeanoptiontoexplore.

NamibiaAssociationofLocalAuthoritiesOfficers(NALAO)

• Abenefitoftheseprocessistodismisstheperceptionthat‘peoplearelazy’,andtoprovehardworkfromthegrassroots.

• Co-productionisdesirable.

• Communitymembersininformalsettlementsarenotunreasonable,theycanbeengagedindecision-making;however,theyneedtohaveaccesstoinformation.

• NALAOhasdevelopeda‘certifiedmunicipalprofessionalaccreditation’(CMP)programmebasedondemonstratedcompetence.Thisisproventhroughactualworkontheground,andknowledgeacquiredthroughthis.Thiscanbelinkedtotheshortcoursesthathavebeendiscussed,asCMPprovidesforcontinuouseducation;withdegreeofdemonstratedcompetence,employmentdesirabilityincreases.

• Learningandexchangeprogrammesisacost-effectivewaytocreatecapacitywithinLAs.

• Engagingmediaandpoliticians,importanttoconsiderintheseprocesses.



NamibiaUniversityofScienceandTechnology

• Thereareopportunitiestobuildonexistingcurriculawithinthedepartments.

• Therearepossibilitiestohavesharedmandatorycourses.

• Shortcoursesareemergingclearlyasaneed.

• TheroleofCentressuchastheIntegratedLandManagementInstitute,canbeinstrumentalinovercomingtheinherentshortcomingsofDepartmentalengagements.

• Winterschoolscanbeconsideredtogobeyondthelimitsofcalendarrhythms.

• Communityengagementcomesatagoodtimeascurriculumreviewhasrecentlytakenplace,nowit’stimetoimplement;particularlywithwork-integratedlearning(WIL).

• Linkswithothereducationalinstitutions,notmakeitaprojectofonesingleuniversity.

• Itismoredifficulttore-structurethecurriculumonlyontheoccasionofaproject,ratherthantobeinlinewithanationalplan;e.g.inthecaseofNamibia,thereisaneedfora‘nationalinformalsettlementupgradingstrategy’foruniversitiestoundergotherestructuringofcurriculumthoroughly.

• TheleadershipofNUSTneedstobeengagedforthemtosupportthisinitiative.

© 2017 ILMI – Integrated Land Management Institute ILMI is a research centre at the Faculty of Natural Resources and Spatial Sciences (FNRSS) at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). Views expressed by the authors are not to be attributed to any of these institutions. Please visit our website for details on ILMI’s publications policy: http://ilmi.nust.na



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