Stakeholder engagement workshop: Indigenous voices, pathways to a sustainable future

Indigenous Voices, Pathways to a Sustainable Future: A National Dialogue on the Safeguarding of Namibian Indigenous Languages and Contributions to Scientific Knowledge

UNESCO, through its work under the Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) programme supports Member States in fostering dialogue between indigenous and scientific knowledge holders as well as in promoting the integration of local and indigenous knowledge into global climate science and policy processes. UNESCO is also the lead UN Agency for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL:2022-2032), which seeks to raise awareness of the importance of the preservation, revitalization, and promotion of indigenous languages.

To facilitate the process of meeting the goals of the International Decade, a Global Action Plan was developed, providing strategic information including on outcomes, specific outputs, key activities and their linkages to international commitments, as well as a monitoring and reporting framework. Member States were encouraged to adapt the Global Action Plan to their respective local context, through the elaboration of National Action Plans.

In Namibia, the Division of Marginalized Communities under the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW) is leading efforts, alongside indigenous language community members, academia, governmental and other relevant stakeholders including UNESCO. A national taskforce was established, not only to facilitate elaboration of the Namibia National Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (NNAP-IDIL), but also to stimulate intercultural dialogue, and encourage the integration of indigenous languages and knowledge into global climate science and policy processes.

It is within this context that a first stakeholder consultation workshop is being organized for the elaboration of the Namibian National Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (NNAP-IDIL). The workshop, which will be held in Otjiwarongo, 16-19 July 2024, will bring together indigenous language community members, academia, governmental and other relevant stakeholders, to discuss and propose priority actions and activities to protect and promote indigenous languages and knowledge systems, leveraging existing and new partnerships. In keeping with the axiom, nothing about us without us, Indigenous language community members are expected to play a lead role in the development and implementation of the national plan and its activities.

For further inquiries please contact:

• Nashilongo Amutenya [email protected]
• Rebecca Namwandi [email protected]