Sustainable development key to transformation

Sustainable development key to transformation3rd Sustainable Development Awards launched Recognising the importance of integrating sustainability into the core of business and industry as well as the daily lives of all Namibians. We invite citizens to join us in the search of companies, local authorities, civil society organisations, youth and media practitioners that have demonstrated sustainable development. Benedict Libanda, CEO: EIF PHILLEPUS UUSIKU

The Sustainable Development Advisory Council (SDAC), in cooperation with the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) launched the third Sustainable Development Awards set to take place on the 21 of May 2021.

The awards intend to recognise the importance of integrating sustainability into the core of business and industry as well as the daily lives of all Namibians.

In addition, the awards will recognise and reward the contributions of outstanding individuals and institutions in the field of sustainable development.

This year awards target the private sector and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), community level natural resource management and utilization initiatives, research and development, youth action for sustainable development and journalism in the field of sustainable development, EIF said in a statement.

The awards further target green banks, school 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 2 years starting January 2019, the statement reads.

Background

The Sustainable Development Awards was first held in 2015 and was based on a joint idea of the Sustainable Development Advisory Council and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia. 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 for a number of reasons but will now be held in May 2021.

In his welcoming remarks at the launch, Benedict Libanda, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EIF noted that “We are staging the third edition of the Sustainable Development Awards in partnership with the Sustainable Development Advisory Council. We therefore invite citizens nationwide to join us in the search of companies, local authorities, civil society organisations, youth, media practitioners, and individuals that have demonstrated and promoted sustainable and responsible development”.

Officiating at the launch ceremony was Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environemt, Forestry and Tourism. In his virtual address the minister unveiled the theme for this year’s award “Accelerating the green economy transformation as we recover from Covid-19.""We remain cognizant about the challenges bestowed by the Covid-19 pandemic, along with the devastating impact it has had on the Namibian economy but has simultaneously provided an opportunity for us to rethink the country’s approach to economic growth and socio-economic development,” he said.

Sponsors

In her closing remarks Hallo Angala, a member of the Sustsinable Development Advisory Council highlighted that “the third edition of the awards will therefore recognize institutions and individuals in all spheres that have integrated environmental, social, economic, and management aspects of sustainable development into their businesses and operations”.

The third SDA ceremony is made possible through esteemed sponsorship by 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 closes on Friday, 16 April 2021 at 13:00 PM. Hence, all applicants are urged to submit their applications early as possible to avoid disappointment.