WINDHOEK – Namibia, The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative to Namibia, Ms. Sheila Roseau on 29 March 2021 paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Hon. Doreen Sioka to discuss and explore common areas of work and potential ways to further strengthen the partnership. Ms. Roseau also handed over three laptop computers to the Ministry.

The laptops supplied by UNFPA would be used for the critical work of the social work team at the Khomas Gender Based Violence Protection Unit and will help strengthen the functioning of the GBV database. With the support of UNFPA, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Office of the Prime Minister, the Namibian Police developed a national GBV Administration Database system to improve case management services, reporting and coordination between service providers.

Ms. Roseau noted that alongside systematic and survivor-centred case management practices, proper information and records management is essential for improving institutional response capacity to GBV. “A secure and accurate data system is important to properly document, respond and manage reported cases of GBV,” she stressed.

The Minister of Gender, Hon. Sioka, expressed her gratitude, emphasizing that the relationship between Namibia and the United Nations comes and a long way before the country’s independence and should be maintained. “The UN agencies, including UNFPA, have been with us, supporting us from the beginning until today and we are very grateful,” she said.

The laptop computers handed over have a combined value of NAD 78,597.00. UNFPA Country Office supports the Ministry in areas of GBV, harmful practices, sexual and reproductive health, implementation and reporting of human rights instruments and gender responsive budgeting.