UNDP and IUM sign MoU

WINDHOEK, 06 JUL – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International University of Management (IUM) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish long-term cooperation between the two institutions.
UNDP and IUM had an ongoing collaboration since last year in areas of mutual interest, but no formal agreement for cooperation existed, leading to the signing of the MoU.
The cooperation will focus on the provision of evidence-based policy-making as well as capacity-building at IUM for relevant research in the areas of sustainable development to be conducted at the tertiary institution.
Acting Vice Chancellor of IUM, Kingo Mchombu said that UNDP will provide internship opportunities for students to enhance capacity through mentorship and exposure to international policy-making and mainstreaming of sustainable development.
“IUM and UNDP will develop a Research Agenda for generating evidence for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prioritisation in Namibia and it will be in consultation with the National Planning Commission (NPC), government, private sector and civil society in Namibia,” Mchombu highlighted.
The UNDP Resident Representative, Izumi Morota-Alakija said the MoU is in line with the goals and targets set out in the Fifth National Development Plan of Namibia (NDP5) and the global 17 SDGs.
“We must seize the opportunity to harness the momentum of NDP5 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Morota-Alakija said.
(NAMPA)