The dissemination project took as a
starting point the fact that the Walvis Bay Local Agenda 21 Project was
widely regarded as an effective intervention that managed to publicise
and popularise the principles of Local Agenda 21 in Walvis Bay. Within
the community of Walvis Bay, the project attempted to address sustainability
as a way to ensure that environmental, economic and social needs are met
in unison, and that each is considered as important as the other. It also
contributed in raising the awareness on the vital links between local
activities and global effects.
As a result, the need was expressed to disseminate information about the
Walvis Bay LA21 Project to other Local Authorities in Namibia. The aim
of such an intervention was to raise awareness on environmental issues
at the local level, and to assist Local Authorities, as well as the communities
they serve, in finding ways of addressing these issues with local resources.
A dissemination campaign was planned to involve all local authorities
in workshops in four of the core geographical regions of Namibia. The
‘Striking a balance’ video and supporting materials were developed
and then launched in Walvis Bay on 12 October 2004.
The video includes a brief introduction on LA21, divided into four sections
to cover the four components of the Project. The film provides insight
into the process of developing an urban environmental management plan;
how this can be implemented in practice; and the results of this practice
in terms of financing and implementing small scale projects. Supporting
materials consisted of worksheets, guiding participating local authorities
through the process of developing LA21 development projects fit for their
own towns.
Four three-day workshops for the Erongo Region (held in Walvis Bay), the
Central North Region (Otjiwarongo), the Far North Region (Ongwediwa) and
the South Region (Mariental) took place over the next six weeks. The workshops
were facilitated and presented by the Environmental Management Section
of the Municipality of Walvis Bay
A total of 40 villages, towns and municipalities as well as delegates
from the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing were informed
of positive outcomes of the Walvis Bay Local Agenda 21 Project. About
120 workshop participants were capacitated on green and brown environmental
management practices, and also to implement sustainability programs and
establish partnerships amongst themselves to ensure continued communication
on environmental management and environmental projects.
The Habitat Research and Development Centre (HRDC) is actively involved
in research and development related activities in Namibia, and was therefore
well positioned for continuing the initiative to disseminate information
and sensitise local authorities on LA21 processes and urban environmental
management in general. To conclude the Dissemination Project, this website
was developed for the Habitat Centre as a resource for information on
urban environmental management in Namibia