The Government of Indonesia Provides N$ 5,3M of Development Grant for Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute

The Government of Indonesia through its Indonesia Agency for International Development (Indonesia AID) has agreed to extend a Development Grant for Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI). The grant amount approximately US$.288 thousand (equivalent N$ 5,3 million) shall be utilized to enhance capacity building for Instructors of NAMFI in the form of training of trainers International Maritime Organization (ToT IMO) Model Course 6.09. The training of trainers program for NAMFI’s instructors will be conducted by the Human Resource Development of Transportation Agency, Ministry of Transportation, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of
Indonesia.

The Government of Indonesia will train 19 instructors of NAMFI in Jakarta, Indonesia for 16 days, from 4 November to 19 November 2023. During the ToT program, the trainees will build up their knowledge on subjects, among others, International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention); Planning an Effective Learning Environment; Training Aids, and practical subjects on Bridge Simulator and Main Engine Simulator. To further increase the knowledge and implementation of the training the participants will visit the Training Ship.

The Embassy of Indonesia in Windhoek has played instrumental role in facilitating the communication and finding way forward to finalize the grant agreement. To further prepare the participant before arriving in Indonesia to join the ToT Program, the Embassy organized a pre-departure orientation gathering on Friday, 3 November 2023. The pre-departure gathering provides venue to deliver valuable and meaningful information that eases the trainee’s adaptation and get familiar with local culture and customs. At the pre-departure event hosted at the Indonesian Ambassador Residence, His Excellency Wisnu Edi Pratignyo, the Ambassador of Indonesia to Namibia congratulated the participants and wished they could take advantage of the training and return to Namibia to build and develop NAMFI into an excellence marine training center.

Ambassador Wisnu stated that the ToT IMO Model Course 6.09 for NAMFI will complement the previous capacity building program provided by the Government of Indonesia to Namibia. Since 2011 until 2019, Namibia had participated in 6 capacity building programs conducted in Indonesia. The capacity building was the implementation of the MoU and Plan of Action (PoA) on Marine Affairs and Fisheries Cooperation agreed by Indonesia and Namibia on 2018. Currently both countries are in the renewal process of the MoU, which expected to be finalized and signed next year.

The MoU will strengthen the long-standing relations between Indonesia and Namibia. Over more than three decades, Indonesia and Namibia have built a partnership and friendship founded on shared interests, mutual respect, and people-to-people ties. Development assistance extended by Indonesia to Namibia reflects Indonesia’s continuous support for Namibia in the national development. The ToT program will enable Namibia to nurture capability of human resource in the maritime and fisheries industry that ensure the growth of the industry and national economy. To date, the Government of Indonesia has provided development grant for 20 countries
with the value of more than US$.122 million.