About Us
About Us
The Forum for African Women Educationalists in Namibia, FAWENA, is a National Chapter of the Pan-African Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) that was founded in 1992 by five women ministers of education to promote girls’ and women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa in line with Education for All. FAWE was born out of discussions of African Ministers and funding agencies within the Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), and UNESCO-affiliated forum which brought together 48 Ministries of Education in Sub-Saharan Africa and about 44 donor agencies funding education in Africa. FAWE headquarters is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
FAWE Namibia opened its office in June 1999 with the support of the Ministry of Education Arts and Culture to increase access, improve retention and enhance the quality of education for vulnerable girls and women in Namibia.
FAWENA is registered under Section 19 of Act 12 of 1979 as a non-governmental organization (NGO). The offices are situated in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture building in Windhoek.
Girls Club Training
1. To enhance access to quality education and training opportunities for girls
and women in Namibia.
2. To enhance the generation and utilization of research evidence to inform
education policy and practice.
3. To strengthen institutional capacity and enhance the operational
effectiveness of the FAWE network.
FAWE Namibia works at policy, institutional and community levels. We work with and through the Ministries of Education at all levels in the country to ensure ownership and sustainability of the FAWENA programs. FAWENA also has a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministries of Education. The MOUs defines the partnership and outlines the role and responsibilities of the ministries of education and FAWENA. FAWENA uses existing institutions and structures both at Ministerial and community levels as a way of promoting ownership whilst recognizing the local capacities and capabilities.
Over the years, FAWENA has built awareness and consensus on the social and economic advantages of girls’ education through its advocacy work. As a result, Namibia government has adopted and continues to adopt gender-positive policies and interventions such as free primary education, re-entry policies for adolescent mothers, scholarships for disadvantaged girls, FAWE’s COE model, TUSEME, gender-responsive pedagogy and others. This has led to increased rates of girls’ enrolment; retention and completion of school in Namibia.
FAWENA believes that education is a human right and that all citizens, including women and girls, must enjoy that right. Education has direct benefits for girls and women who attend school and leads to extensive benefits for society at large. Educating girls and women reduces fertility rates, reduces child and infant mortality rates, improves nutrition and health, protects girls and women from abuse, exploitation and HIV/AIDS, increases economic productivity and growth, and improves governance and democratic processes.
An equitable and inclusive society where all Namibian girls and women are thriving.
To promote gender responsive policies, practices, and attitudes in education to enhance equal opportunities for Namibian girls and women to prosper.
Education for Change
At FAWENA, our values and guiding principles form the bedrock of our work towards promoting gender equality, girls’ education, and women’s empowerment in Namibia. These principles guide our actions and shape our decision-making process, ensuring that we stay true to our mission and vision. They define who we are and serve as a compass in our journey toward a more equitable and inclusive society.
Impact-oriented: We prioritize meaningful results and long-term outcomes for girls and women, educators, and the educational system with a focus on creating positive and lasting impact on individuals, communities, and society.
Inclusivity: We promote equity in education, working to ensure equal access to quality education for all girls and women, including those with disabilities regardless of their socio-economic background, geographical location, or cultural context.
Innovation: We utilize creative solutions, research, and technology integration to overcome educational challenges faced by women and girls.
Integrity: We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of excellence, transparency, and responsible governance. We are transparent in our actions and utilization of resources efficiently, ensuring that our activities have a meaningful impact and deliver value to the communities we serve.
Involvement: We foster collaboration and partnerships with various stakeholders to create a collective impact in advancing girls’ and women’s education in Namibia.
Policy Advocacy
Influencing governments and other partners to review existing educational policies and adopt strategies to achieve greater and better participation of girls in education.
Community Advocacy
Building public awareness on the social and economic value of girls’ education so that citizens themselves take responsibility for the task and collectively work to support the agenda.
Interventions
Developing and promoting models that demonstrate that contexts can be created that are conducive to girls’ enrolment, continuation and successful completion of the school cycle.
Replication and mainstreaming
Encouraging governments to adopt and generalize innovations that have demonstrated positive impacts on girls’ schooling.
Strategic Partnerships
FAWENA Alumni
FAWE Namibia is a membership organization whose members include ministers of education, university vice-chancellors, education policy-makers, researchers, gender specialists and human rights activists.
Our organization structure comprises a Regional Secretariat headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia. Our governance structure comprises 7-member Executive Committee and General Assembly.
The governing body of FAWENA is the Executive Committee which consists of seven (7) office bearers: Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and three (3) other members elected to the Committee. The current Committee members comprise of four (4) Women and three (3) men, with Hon. Ester Anna Nghipondoka, as the Chairperson. Hon. Nghipondoka is the current Minister of Education, Arts and Culture in Namibia. The Executive Committee members governs the operations of FAWENA. Under the Executive Committee is the Sub-committee and National Secretariat
The Sub-committee members are any person that takes up FAWENA membership and serves under the different sub-committees to provide their expertise, skills and knowledge in their areas of expertise or specialization. The sub-committees include Policy and Research, Training and Facilitation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Gender and Advocacy and Resource Mobilization and Finance.
The National Secretariat with Headquarters in Windhoek is vested with the duty of running FAWENA day-to-day operations. The National Secretariat is headed by the National Chapter Coordinator. FAWENA current staff consists of two (2) Program Officers, one (1) Finance and Admin Officer and one (1) Driver.
Hon. Ester Anna Nghipondoka,
MP, Minister- Ministry of Education, Art and Culture
FAWENA Chairperson
Masters of Education (Specializing in Inclusive Education)- University of Western Cape
Bachelor of Education (Specializing in Special Education needs)- University of Fort Hare
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology- University of Fort Hare
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Ms. Rauha Haufiku
Chief Human Resource-Office of the Prime Minister;
FAWENA Vice-Chairperson
Chairperson- Monitoring and Evaluation Subcommittee
Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Land Development (ULD)-Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Certificate in Health Management Programme (HMP) (with CUM LAUDE)- Pretoria, South Africa
Bachelor Degree in Human Resources Management-Polytechnic of Namibia.
Diploma in Human Resources Management-Polytechnic of Namibia
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Mr. Gerson Kongoro
Retired School Principal
FAWENA Treasurer
Diploma in Educational Management- University of Potchefstroom
Senior Primary Education Diploma- Open Learning Group
Primary Teachers Certificate
Diploma in Transformational Leadership- African Leadership Institute
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Mr. Wilibard N. Hadula
Managing Director-Rosspedros Investments
FAWENA Executive Committee Member
Chairperson-Finance and Resource Mobilization Subcommittee
FAWENA Alumni
Certificate in Marketing and Finance Management- International University of Management (IUM)
Media Science- University of Namibia
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Ms. Justina Naftali
Life Skills Teacher- Hage Geingob HS;
FAWENA Executive Committee Member
Chairperson- Training and Facilitation Subcommittee
Bachelor of Public Governance-Namibia University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Public Management- Namibia University of Science and Technology
Diploma in HIV/Management and Counselling-University of Namibia
Advanced Certificate in Education (Learner Support)-North West University
Diploma in Basic Education Teacher- Windhoek College Education
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Ms. Delphia E. Jimmy
Life Skills Coordinator- One Economy Foundation
FAWENA Executive Committee Member
Chairperson- Gender and Advocacy Subcommittee
Diploma in Basic Education- University of Namibia
Advanced Certificate in Education - IOL
Certificate in Transformational Leadership-African Leadership Institute
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Mr. Veno Zemburuka
Life Skills teacher- Orwetoveni Primary School
FAWENA Executive Committee member
Chairperson- Research and Policy Subcommittee
Certificate in Mindset Education
Bachelor of Education (Education management)
MBA- Finance
