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Sustainable Development Advisory Council inaugurated

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta (seated right) with members of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council (Photograph by Bryn Canniffe).

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta (seated right) with members of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council (Photograph by Bryn Canniffe).

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, has urged the new members of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council to strike a balance between the country’s development and environmental protection needs.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the council this week, Shifeta said the inauguration of the council marks a new beginning in the path to sustainable development.
“I am confident that this council will be able to mobilize resources, guide policy formulation to achieve our natural strategic development objectives and goal as outlined in the fourth National Development Policy (NDP4) and Vision 2030 respectively,” said Shifeta.
He said in order to succeed; the council should prepare the ground well in advance. “You need to mobilize all Namibians and more. As with environment, we must build a national consensus for action; practical, targeted, dynamic change. We must aim to add value to our natural resources through value chain.”
The Sustainable Development Advisory Council  consists of members drawn from both government and the private sector who will serve for a period of three years beginning 01 September 2012.
The council is tasked with promoting co-operation and co-ordination between organs of the state, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, the private sector and funding agencies on environmental issues relating to sustainable development, amongst other duties.
The eight members who form part of the Advisory Council are Anna Shiweda, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry; Annely Haiphene, the National Planning Commission’s Chief National Development Advisor; Dr Gaby Schneider, the Director of Geological Survey in the Ministry of Mines and Energy; Dr Malan Lindeque, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the four public nominated members include Martha Mwandingi, Sioni Ikela, Dr Chris Brown and Dr Michael Humavindu.

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