Citizen wellbeing and GDP: Towards more appropriate measures of Namibia\u27s success and progress

Developing nations like Namibia are aiming to industrialize much like developed nations and use the gross domestic product to measure their progress. However, this development path has been largely unsustainable. For Namibia to develop into a sustainable society, a different approach is needed. This study aimed to find entry points toward such an approach. Surveys were conducted in Windhoek, Namibia\u27s capital, to measure human well-being. Generally, as is expected in a developing country, well-being correlated positively along the income line. However, the indicators did illustrate that a more holistic measure would go a long way toward more effective development planning in Namibia. This study provided an entry point from which further work will be undertaken

Developing and evaluating a community-based HIV/AIDS stigma reduction intervention in Ongenga constituency of Ohangwena Region, Namibia.

Ph. D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2012.Background: Namibia has been affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic with infected and affected persons experience stigma at different levels. As there were no local stigma reduction intervention tools, this study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate tools at different levels in a rural Namibian community. Methods: An intervention research with a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group pre-and post-test sample plan was used, with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Four groups of participants participated: People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), their family members, community leaders and health care workers (n=224). The LINMODEL community participation and Frohlich Model informed the participant selection, and the Diffusion of Innovations theory provided the framework for justifying the use of targeted intervention tools in specific groups. Seven communities and a clinic were divided into the control (n=107) and intervention (n=117) arms. The study consisted of pre- and post-intervention questionnaires for both arms, intervention training workshops for the PLWHA and community leaders, and in-depth interviews for the community and opinion leaders. The post-intervention results showed that stigma decreased significantly in social isolation (p=0.017), workplace stigma (p=0.008) and negative self perception (p=0.006) in the PLWHA intervention arm. Verbal abuse (p=0.07) has slightly decreased but there was no statistically significant difference between the two study arms. Fear of contagion (p=0.12) has slightly increased after intervention in both arms. All mean scores (PLWHA) for the control arm increased significantly after the intervention. Regarding the family and vii community leaders results, only the household stigma score (p=0.01) decreased significantly in the intervention arm. Health care workers reported increased stigma after intervention, stigma against PLWHA (p=0.04) and associated stigma towards health care providers (p=0.005). Discussion: A comparison of the results in both arms indicated that the intervention was effective in reducing stigma in the intervention arm in three groups (group 4 excluded) with varying degrees of success. Stigma scores were significantly decreased in PLWHA from the intervention arm. The intervention was effective although it did not decrease all stigma scores significantly. This may require more time for the issues addressed in the intervention workshops to diffuse through the different groups

The implementation of project work by selected grade 10 life science teachers in Namibia

Prior to independence in Namibia in 1990 the education system of the day did not encourage the majority of Namibian learners to explore and investigate the wonder of the natural and physical world. The post independence education system has nurtured the study of the sciences and has emphasized participation, problem solving and independent studies. The inclusion of projects and other independent studies has been regarded as a key vehicle to develop scientific understanding and competencies related to this understanding. However, very few studies have hitherto investigated the teachers’ understanding and implementation of projects in the Namibian context. This study investigates how Grade 10 Life Science teachers understand and implement projects in selected schools in Namibia. The study focused on two teachers in two schools, a combined and a senior secondary school in the Oshikoto educational region of Namibia. The research was conducted through an interpretive case study aiming to gain a better understanding about the implementation of projects in schools. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observation and document analysis. The findings indicate that despite the focus on projects in the Life Science syllabus and broad curriculum, policy documents do not give detailed guidelines on how projects should be planned, organized and assessed. The results revealed that knowledge about projects and their implementation is primarily informed by practical activities rather than the critical enquiries or investigations required by the Life Science curriculum policy. The study also revealed that despite the in-service training received by the two teachers participating in this study on syllabus interpretation, it is apparent from the findings that project work in these in-service programmes was neglected. This has further hampered teachers’ understanding and implementation of projects. The findings of this study point to a need for project guidelines as well as in-service programmes in this area if the stated nature and role of projects in the context of Namibian education policy is to be achieved

PRACTICE AND TALENT EFFECTS IN SWING HIGH BAR INTER-JOINT COORDINATION OF NOVICE ADULTS

This research describes changes in movement coordination after a two-month practice period of the swing on high bar in a novice cohort, which was divided by a-priory talent level into two groups: spontaneous-talented, ST, and non-spontaneous-talented, NST. Their performance was also compared with experienced gymnasts. Data were collected during pre- and post-practice sessions by two video cameras. Coordination between hip and shoulder joints was assessed. Results showed a similar practice effect in the swing enlargements in both novice groups. Interestingly, the ST group’s inter-joint coordination variables on the downswing improved more than those of the NST group due to practice. Therefore, the two novice groups improved performance, but they showed diferent local coordination. Initial talent helped to improve both performance and coordination in the down-swing

Towards the Reduction of Vulnerabilities and Risks of Climate Change in the Community-Based Tourism, Namibia

Climate change is one of the contemporary issues in the world that has proven to have direct impact on the development of different nations. Community-based tourism has been identified as a potential contributor to household security. In this chapter, the analyses were derived from regional consultations in the two regions with community members, traditional leaders, and key stakeholders. In Namibia and particularly Kunene and Zambezi regions, community-based tourism has expanded, providing employment to the residents of these communities. Similarly, there has been an increase in joint venture agreements between local communities and external investors in areas such as constructions of lodges, tented camps and tour guiding. The community-based tourism sectors in Zambezi region and Kunene region are prone to climatic hazards, in particular, frequent floods and prolonged drought. This chapter recommends inclusive climate change adaptive strategies that promote climate proof infrastructure for tourism establishment. An effective community-based tourism intervention for the Zambezi region is necessitated by a well-informed and consultative planning and execution to reduce the effects of flood. For Kunene region, community-based tourism interventions should be aimed at addressing the risks resulting from drought. It should, therefore, prioritise sustainable water security and environmental management practices

An evaluation of the organizational communication of a performance management system in the city of Windhoek

This study evaluated how the communication of the new performance management system by the City of Windhoek influenced the beliefs of its employees and consequently to determine the effects of the communication process on the degree to which buy-in and readiness is created. Armenakis, Harris and Field's (1999) five element model of examining the change recipient's beliefs, namely, discrepancy, appropriateness, principal support, efficacy, and valence was used as a framework for this study. These beliefs play a major role in affecting behaviours of the change recipients (employees) toward the implementation of a new change initiative in an organisation. Discrepancy involves assessing if employees believe that a need for change does really exist in the organization. Appropriateness seeks to find out from the change recipients whether the performance management system being introduced in the organization is an appropriate reaction to the need and the vision of the organisation. Principal support describes the support from change agents and opinion leaders for the organizational change. Efficacy refers to a belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to produce given attainments. Valence refers to the intrinsic and extrinsic attractiveness (from the change recipient's perspective) associated with the perceived outcome of the change. Literature on organizational change, organizational communication and change implementation were used, to gain and highlight insights regarding the role of change communication during change implementation, and to provide the conceptual framework for the research design and analysis. A single case study research method was used under a mixed research paradigm. The study used a survey questionnaire that was sent to 711 employees; a sufficient and representative 202 questionnaires were returned from all levels of the organization, yielding a response rate of 22.4%. In addition, three focus group interviews of a representative cross section of staff were conducted as also document analysis to collect data for the study. The summative average percentages of levels of agreements and disagreements of the respondents for each of the five change recipient's beliefs indicate a fairly high degree of agreement (buy-in) and considerably low degree of disagreement (resistance) among the respondents to nearly all five change recipient's beliefs. Discrepancy received the highest degree of agreement (buy-in) 84%; efficacy received 73%, appropriateness 66% and valence 59% whereas principal support scored the lowest degree of agreement of about 40% of the respondents. Despite the high degree of agreement (buy-in) for these elements, there was also a notable number of the respondents who neither agreed nor disagreed to some of the five change recipient's beliefs. In particular, principal support had 38%, valence had 28%, and appropriateness had 22% who neither agreed nor disagreed. The degree of disagreement (resistance) is relatively low in almost all five change recipient‟s beliefs except for principal support which indicated slightly higher levels of disagreement (19%). The results of the study indicate that the communication methods e.g., the road show, leaflets and brochures, discussions and training sessions used during the pre-implementation phase of the new performance management system influenced the change recipient‟s beliefs on the discrepancy for the new performance management system. The evidence is that these communication methods and actions helped to create a sense of urgency and the need to implement a new performance management system among employees. The new performance management system was also believed to be appropriate and its appropriateness was justified through the use of various communication methods which provided detailed explanations on how the new performance management system was different to the earlier performance appraisal system. Notwithstanding the belief in the appropriateness of the new performance management system, the study found that the absence of such a performance management system over a long period of time had cultivated a hidden but unifying shared set of values, beliefs and assumptions among employees that seem not to fit or be suitable to the demands of the new performance management system and the current challenges facing the organization. The employees themselves noted this discrepancy. Hence, they argued, there is a need to bring about new culture with new sets of values, beliefs and assumptions that will better suit and support the current demands facing the organisation and its members. The study found that although employees significantly believe that they have high levels of personal self-efficacy, the change message that was communicated to them did not in itself appear to help to create and further develop this employee self-efficacy. The change message mainly focussed on the need for training, and the design of job descriptions and technical aspects of the performance management system. The study revealed that the employees' belief in principal support of the new performance management system was that principal support was seen as less than sufficient or not as evident as they would have liked. Employees remarked that principal support was only conveyed during the initial stage of communication, thereafter, principal support from senior management was seen to have declined throughout the pre-implementation phase. Nonetheless, immediate supervisors and managers were believed to more supportive than senior management. The literature points to a lack of belief in principal support as an important cause of a loss momentum in change initiatives, which in turn may result in cynicism and greater resistance, especially by those who have vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Valence refers to the intrinsic and extrinsic attractiveness (from the change recipient's perspective) associated with the perceived outcome of the change. The results show that respondents have mixed beliefs about the personal benefits associated with the new performance management system. Thus, 63% of the respondents believe that it will benefit them, 75% believe that it will increase their self fulfilment, 68% believe that it will increase their feeling of accomplishment, 45% believe that their fringe benefit will remain the same after it is implemented, and 58% believe that they could earn high performance return. However, the result also shows that there are still many respondents who neither agree nor disagree to the presence of personal valance with regard to the new performance managements system. This study established that the use of various communication methods persuaded the majority of the City of Windhoek employees to view the new performance management system overall in a favourable light. However, interviewees criticised the communications process on the grounds that most of these methods were only used once and were not repeated, as they would have liked. Lessons on this item from other change studies are that when communicating new change initiatives, change agents should use different methods of communication and as many times as possible to influence the belief of employees. This report is structured as follows: Section 1 provides an abstract and introduction to the study. Section 1.2 presents a brief review of core theories and recent empirical studies relevant to the research problem. Section 1.3 provides a description of the research method followed in addressing aim and objectives of this study. Section 1.4 presents the results of the evaluation report and section 1.5 discusses the findings and make conclusive recommendations. Section 2 of this study complements subsection section 1.2 (in section 1) with a more detailed review of the literature on organizational change, organizational communication and change implementation. This more detailed review was conducted before the field work and write up of Section 1. The literature incorporated into Section 1 was distilled from this more detailed review. Similarly, Section 3 of this study complement subsection 1.3 (of section 1) with an extended description of the research design and research procedure followed in the study

La imagen como nuevo discurso político : Fox como mercancía

Proyecto terminal (Licenciatura en Sociología política) - Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Azcapotzalco, División de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Departamento de Sociología, Área Sociología Política, [200-]. Asesora: Miriam Alfie Cohen. 1 archivo PDF (91 páginas)Se expone la importancia de la imagen en las campañas políticas contemporáneas expresamente en el caso Fox, para ello se analiza la campaña foxista partiendo de su organigrama, métodos, propuestas, su relación con los medios y sus resultados en sectores de la población que fueron más influenciados por este métcdc y el tipo de votante que capto. Después de esto se desarrolla el impacto de la imagen pública contrastada con los resultados que hay en el gobierno. Se presentan alternativas que podrían evitar esta situación, como poner candados legales al financiamiento y al desarrollo del marketing junto con acuerdos políticos que permitan que la política ya no sea sobre lo trivial sino algo con discusión de fondo. UAMADCSHD

The changing climate and human vulnerability in north-central Namibia

North-central Namibia is more vulnerable to effects of climate change and variability. Combined effects of environmental degradation, social vulnerability to poverty and a changing climate will compromise subsistence farming in north-central Namibia (NCN). This will make subsistence and small-scale farmers in the region more vulnerable to projected changes in the climate system. Thus, the aim of this article was to examine factors contributing to subsistence farmers’ vulnerability to impacts of climate change. The article further discusses different aspects of human vulnerability and existing adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate related disasters experienced over the past three to four decades in NCN. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches and methodology were employed to obtain information from subsistence farmers in north-central Namibia. The sociodemographic characteristics of Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati Region reveals high levels of unemployment, high adult and elderly population and high dependency on agricultural livelihood system. These indicators help understand levels of household vulnerability. The study concludes that households interviewed revealed low levels of adaptive capacity due to exposure to climate risks and combined effects of social, political and cultural factors. This article provided an understanding that is required to inform the adaptation pathways relevant for NCN

CDKN project at a glance

The aim is to strengthen horizontal relationships among government departments at sub-national level, support the mainstreaming of gender and climate change into national rural development strategies, and enhance local participation of vulnerable people on income generating activities. The Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) project identified factors that constrain adaptation planning and implementation in Namibia. This Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) project brief provides an outline of a number of programmes, along with project partners and their roles, as well as a table describing Project Outcomes, Deliverables and Status of the project