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Keynote Speech by Director General of
National Planning Commission Dr Peter Katjavivi At the
Namibia Red Cross Partnership Meeting, held at the Safari
Hotel 12-13 February 2009.
Thank you for the invitation to participate in
the partnership meeting, a key important element for both
private and public organizations in the world. This is a
special honor for me, as a Director General for National
Planning Commission as I greatly admire the Red Cross
Movement, the most effective humanitarian agency in the
world.
Firstly may I commend the Namibia Red Cross Society for
convening this important gathering of deeply committed
people and organizations and for assembling such a diverse
group of committed partners. I am pleased to have this
opportunity, not as an occasion to simply talk about the
valuable work with Namibia Red Cross Society does both
within Namibia and around the world as a part of a global
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, but also highlight
generous support that our dedicated partners present here
today contributed to Red Cross humanitarian work.
Madam chair, Namibia Red Cross has been responding to
disasters and crises at home and elsewhere over 17 years.
Guided by its mandate to complement governments efforts in
alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people, the National
Society help families separated by war, conflict or natural
disaster, elderly people living alone, teenagers in drug or
alcohol related emergencies, children who miss out on
breakfast or someone in need of first aid.
Ladies and gentleman, it is only through the support of our
partners that the Namibia Red Cross Society is able to
support the programs and services that our community has
come to depend upon. The challenges that Namibia Red Cross
is facing are too great to deal them alone, and therefore it
is only through partnerships like this one that we can
mobilize the power of the humanity.
Madam Chair
Partnerships between the private, public and community and
voluntary sectors are becoming central to regeneration
programmes designed to tackle long standing social issues
poverty, HIV/AIDS, unemployment and education.
In the area of humanitarian, it has recently become clear
that in order to achieve a long lasting social impact and
promoting a culture of change there is a need for joined up
thinking and improved cross-sectoral action.
In the Partnership Handbook, David Wilcox analyzes
characteristics of both successful and failed
collaborations. According to Wilcox, some of the
difficulties in implementing thriving collaborations lie in
a set of specific reasons. These include: conflict among key
interest; lack of clear purpose; unrealistic goals;
different philosophy and ways of working; lack of
communication; unequal and unacceptable balance of power;
key interests missing from the partnerships and hidden
agendas. Wilcox highlights how successful partnerships share
a number of features, such as the agreement that a
partnership is necessary; respect and trust between
different interests; a shared vision; compatible ways of
working; good communication; collaborative decision making
and effective organizational management.
Ladies and Gentlemen
In order to improve the performance of partnerships there is
a need to improve the way they are managed. We need to
underline the necessity of developing clear objectives;
ensuring that each partner benefits individually as well as
achieving a common goal; building in evaluation, and
developing understanding and trust between partners.
Improving the management of cross-sector work is not enough
for developing thriving partnerships and that in order to
successfully combined the skills and resources of the
private, public and voluntary, community sectors, there is a
need to create a more supportive environment, and it is our
hope, and we will make a specific contribution on this
subject that this meeting will recognize that effective
partnerships depends on the effectiveness of the
contribution of partners. I have the honor to bring the work
of National Planning Commission to the attention of Red
Cross Movement.
Chair,
Despite the fact that Red Cross is at the heart of the
worlds largest humanitarian network, and despite the fact
that Red Cross members and volunteers are active in almost
every country in the world, neither we nor any other
organization can continue to build without forming
productive partnerships. Our partnerships with the Namibia
Red Cross need to be matched by partnerships at national and
international levels.
I am looking forward to the debates on partnership issues
and to integrating into our planning the work that will be
done here during this debate. National Planning Commission
will remain committed to maximizing the value of our
participation in these fora at global, regional and country
levels that contribute to the strengthening of the
coordination of humanitarian assistance.
I hope we will also have an opportunity to exchange views
and ideas both today and in the years ahead on these issues
and that we can build the links of solidarity and
cooperation with many other organizations and people
represented at this meeting. That commitment, I should
stress, also applies to the indigenous of this land who will
seek to better serve and involve our work over the years
ahead.
Let me conclude by thanking all of you for the roles you
have played in organizing this important partnership
meeting. To the representatives of Namibia Red Cross, to the
Head of Southern Africa zone Madame Le Goff and most of all
the delegates, this is a hopeful forum, we have you to thank
for it. It is my profound hope that this meeting will allow
a full sharing of experiences and ideas between the members
of Namibia Red Cross and its partners.
Thank you.
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