Stakeholder Engagement – Indigenous Voices, Pathways to sustainable Futures: A national dialogue on the Safeguarding of Namibian Indigenous Languages and contributions to Scientific Knowledge
In Namibia, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW) is mandated to coordinate the integration of the Marginalized Communities (San, Ovatue and Ovatjimba) into the mainstream of the Namibian socio – economy as per Cabinet Decision No. 25th/29.11.05/001. The Division of Marginalised Communities under MGEPESW developed key interventions since its establishment to ensure that the stated mandate is effectively achieved namely: Advocacy and Awareness-Raising, Education Support Programme, Livelihood Support Programme and Land Re-distribution Programme.
In relation to the Education Support Programme, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the period of 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL:2022-2032), to raise awareness on Indigenous language preservation, revitalization and promotion but also taking into account other indigenous related issues.
UNESCO through the Local Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) Programme supports member states to strengthen the dialogue between indigenous and scientific knowledge holders, while promoting local and indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in global climate science and policy processes.
The decade has been outlined by a Global Action Plan that member states are encouraged to adopt and domesticate the plan into their local contexts. Once a National Action Plan has been developed, it will provide guidance to achieve the targeted results, also highlighting processes that should be led or co-led by representatives of the Indigenous Language Communities.
The Ministry, together with Palms for Life Namibia, UNESCO and other key partners, plans to host a Stakeholder Engagement Workshop to share knowledge and information on local, regional and national indigenous initiatives and activities, promote indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in global climate science and policy processes, build and strengthen cooperation and unpack ways to incorporate the national priorities into the local implementation of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.