EIF launches Sustainable Development Awards – nominations now open

EIF launches Sustainable Development Awards – nominations now open STAFF REPORTER



The Sustainable Development Advisory Council, in cooperation with the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), will host the third edition of the Sustainable Development Awards on 21 May.

The awards recognise and reward the contributions of outstanding individuals and institutions in the field of sustainable development.

This year, the awards target the private sector and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), community-level natural resource management and utilisation initiatives, research and development, youth action for sustainable development, pioneering journalism in the field of sustainable development, green banks, schools in action for sustainable development, women in action for sustainable development, thought leadership and the ministerial award.

All individuals, organisations, businesses, companies and community groups are invited to submit applications within respective categories.

Self-nominations and third-party nominations will be considered. Entries may be submitted for programmes or projects implemented during last two years, starting January 2019.

“We invite citizens nationwide to join us in the search of companies, local authorities, civil society organisations, youth, media practitioners and individuals who have demonstrated and promoted sustainable and responsible development,” EIF chief executive, Benedict Libanda, said.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta revealed the theme for this year’s awards - ‘accelerating the green economy transformation as we recover from Covid-19’.

“We remain cognisant about the challenges of the pandemic along with the devastating impact it has had on the Namibian economy, but [it] has simultaneously provided an opportunity for us to rethink the country’s approach to economic growth and socio-economic development,” he said.

The Sustainable Development Awards were first held in 2015 and were based on a joint idea of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council and the EIF. It was planned to be hosted every two years and a subsequent second edition of the awards was held in 2017. The third edition of the awards was, however, delayed, but will now be held in May.

The ceremony is made possible through sponsorships by the Agricultural Bank of Namibia, First National Bank of Namibia, Namibia Wildlife Resorts and BDO Namibia, who will serve as the official auditors of the awards.

The deadline for entries is Friday, 16 April, at 13:00. For more information on the application process and categories, visit the EIF website.



EIF chief executive Benedict Libanda at the launch of the 2021 Sustainable Development Awards in Windhoek.