Institutional Development

The IDWG seeks to establish a platform for CBNRM Support Organisations and government technical staff to share experiences, approaches, methodologies, and materials related to conservancy institutional development and governance. The group will provide a forum for discussing institutional development issues and will promote cost-effective, accountable service delivery, management systems, and performance monitoring and evaluation tailored to conservancies. Ultimately, the working group aims to strengthen ownership and commitment to CBNRM among Namibia’s rural communities.
Focal areas

 

  • Strengthen the capacity of NACSO-IDWG and its member organisations to effectively fulfil their roles within the broader CBNRM framework
  • Strengthen overall training support within NACSO through the Namibia Training Institute (NTI)
  • Set up learning and sharing platforms for sharing different experiences and approaches
  • Elevating Community Voices
  • Research and Development
  • Strengthen partnerships with National and Regional Associations to improve community-level support, learning, and capacity development
Mode of operation
Resource Mobilisation and Financial Coordination
  • The IDWG mobilises financial resources to support agreed-upon institutional development activities at the field level. It coordinates available funding streams among partners to minimise duplication. In doing so, the IDWG serves as a coordination and learning platform—consolidating, documenting, and scaling up effective practices and lessons learned.
  • The IDWG provides oversight to ensure effective implementation, timely delivery of outputs, and achievement of agreed targets. This includes monitoring deliverables and tracking performance against work plans, as well as ensuring compliance with the Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) and MEFT requirements.

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  • The IDWG facilitates and supports the establishment and maintenance of a centralised information repository for conservancy institutional and governance documentation. This includes constitutions, benefit distribution plans, audit reports, and related governance records. The group also coordinates data collection using standardised templates and tools, contributing to a uniform reporting system across conservancies.
  • The IDWG supports integrated institutional, governance, and financial audits within conservancies as part of an adaptive management approach. This includes coordinating the implementation of standardised internal financial management systems, and user-friendly financial reporting formats that are appropriate to conservancy contexts, while meeting donor ,MEFT accountability requirements.

The IDWG continuously strengthens the competencies—knowledge, skills, and attitudes—of member organisation staff, conservancies, and government counterparts through a structured and systematic capacity development programme.

This includes:

  • The development, testing, monitoring, evaluation, and rollout of institutional development approaches, methodologies, systems, and tools;

  • The development of standardised training materials and facilitation of Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes.

The IDWG supports conservancies in strengthening benefit tracking and reporting systems by integrating approved benefit distribution plans with simple, standardised tracking tools. These tools enable conservancies to accurately report on benefit distribution, enhance transparency and accountability, and provide clear feedback to members through Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and other community accountability platforms.

The IDWG is hosted by the NACSO Secretariat, from which the Working Group Coordinator and Assistant operate. The IDWG Coordinator is responsible for coordinating IDWG activities, compiling technical and progress reports, and submitting them first to the Working Group for technical review before presenting them to the NACSO Executive Committee for consideration and approval. Through the Coordinator, the IDWG serves as a formal link between field-level partners, conservancies, and MEFT, ensuring alignment, information flow, and policy coherence.
 
 

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News Update

GOSCARs – Nominations for 2024 Exciting News for NCE Members and Friends!

Nominations for the 2024 GOSCARs – the Grassroots Owen-Smith Community Ranger and CBO Awards – are officially OPEN!

In the heart of Namibian community conservation, we celebrate the dedication and hard work of game guards, lion and rhino rangers, fish and community resource monitors, and outstanding community-based organisations. Your nominations shine a light on those holding the thin green line in the field, facing challenges like renewed poaching.

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Happy Holidays

NACSO would like to wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year. Your consistent dedication and commitment to our shared vision have been fundamental to our success throughout 2023.

Together, we have faced challenges, celebrated victories, and made a significant impact on the conservation landscape of Namibia. Your passion, expertise, and collaborative spirit have played a crucial role in driving positive change for our environment, wildlife, and communities.

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Sharwimbo’s Gift: From Dishwasher to Camp Guardian – A Story of growth and perseverance

Sharwimbo’s Gift: From Dishwasher to Camp Guardian – A Story of growth and perseverance

Meet Gift, a dedicated general worker at Sharwimbo Camp. His name truly reflects the invaluable contribution he has made to this tranquil haven nestled between Kongola and Susiwe, just a few kilometres from the pristine beauty of the Kwando River that divides Namibia and Botswana. Gift’s journey at Sharwimbo began as a dishwasher, but over the past decade, he has evolved into much more than that.

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