Namibian DG of the National Planning Commission, Tom Alweendo and German Ambassador to Namibia, H.E. Egon Kochanke, signed two agreements on Financial and Technical Cooperation between Namibia and Germany on May 19. The agreements, worth 15 million Euro, are aimed at skills development through strengthening the education of civil engineers in Namibia.

The grants 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.

Enlarge image Signing ceremony (© German Embassy Windhoek) Ambassador Egon Kochanke stressed that the German government was pleased to assist in improving tertiary education in both Namibian universities. He further emphasized at the ceremony that there is a direct correlation between the economic strength of a nation and its 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,” he stated.

Out of the 15 million Euro grant, eight million Euro 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 the German Development Bank KfW.

A further 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, 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 the German development cooperation agency 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 cooperation.

Cooperation in this focal area encompasses, amongst 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.