BlueGrowth Namibia -BGN

on, Erongo – together with the //Karas region - will be expected to serve as vanguards for the implementation of this policy. This expectation is already evident by the fact that the University of Namibia has resolved to initiate the Marine Studies Institute at Walvisbay to deepen the work already done by the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI), also at Walvisbay; the National Marine Information and Research Centre (NATMIRC); The Benquela Current Commission (BCC); the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO), all domiciled in Swakopmund, as well as the UNAM Sam Nujoma Campus in Hentiesbay. The work of these crucial institutions must be brought to the classroom and the public open space in a sustainable manner and BlueGrowth Namibia intents to play this role. BlueGrowth Namibia is strategically positioned to support the national policy initiatives and the school learning initiatives by working to raise marine literate youth and communities who will play prominent roles in the sustainable utilization of our marine resources. BlueGrowth Namibia envisages 3 Outputs or Pillars to be supported by Administration and Finance. These Pillars are: The Blue School, the Resources Centre and, Research & Innovation.




1️⃣ PILLAR ONE - The Blue School: The first and critical pillar is about Advocacy. In this regard, BlueGrowth Namibia is mindful that Blue Economy is a relatively new economic and social development model. Therefore, BlueGrowth Namibia focuses on a whole range of international collaboration through bilateral and multi-lateral relationships through which Namibia and Portugal already engage. Through these networks, BlueGrowth Namibia engaged the Portuguese Directorate General for Maritime Policy (DGPM) for the implementation of the Blue School concept in Namibia in order to promote Ocean Literacy. Together with that of the Two Ocean Aquarium (South Africa), Blue Green Foundation (Bangladesh), Ciências do Mar I (Brazil) and Ocean Frontier Institute (Canada), the DGPM Blue School is seen as the most realistic intervention to achieve the aspirations of SDG 14. The DGPM Blue School fundamentally enriches the original idea of BlueGrowth Namibia, that of Blue Economy School Clubs, in that the Blue School emphasises; 1. Encourage students to act, intervene and decide; 3. Engages students with different ages; 4. Includes different subjects; 5. Identifies Sea Ambassadors; 6. Interacts with sea/industry sector; 7. Communicates its actions, and; 8. Involves the local community. Moreover, BlueGrowth Namibia is a proponent of the gradual implementation of the Blue Economy Policy in Namibia and that such implementation should go hand-in-hand with massive Ocean Literacy campaigns in schools and general public. This development will ensure public ownership of the national Blue Economy model that speaks to the cultural identity, historical experiences and development aspirations of the Namibia people. Therefore, the international collaboration between BlueGrowth Namibia and DGPM will establish the first-ever Blue School model in Namibia involving schools in the Erongo region (Hentiesbay, Swakopmund and Walvisbay) AND //Karas region (Luderitz, Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund) in the short and immediate term. However, in response to the African Union view of the Blue Economy - the Blue Schools will be extended to include schools in regions with perennial rivers (Kunene, Kavango East & West, Zambezi and //Karas) as well as lakes (Otjikoto, Oshana and Zambezi) in the medium to long term.


2️⃣ Pillar 2 - Resources Centre: The Resources Centre will create a single-shop information facility and house material (books, reports, journals, audio-visual material) for the 6 blue economy sectors of: fisheries & aquaculture; marine transport & safety; marine biotechnology; fresh water through seawater desalination; marine offshore energy and; coastal tourism. This innovation will make cross-sectoral reference possible in the relevant Blue Economy Ministerial Cluster (Ministries of Fisheries & Marine Resources; Works & Transport; Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety & Security; Health and Social Services; Mines & Energy; Agriculture, Water & Land Reform. Moreover, This innovation will encourage systems thinking which is vital in Blue Economy. The Resources Centre will enter into inter-library loan facilities with public and municipal libraries in order to bring the services of the Blue Economy Learning Centre closer to the school communities and public in other town. The Resources Centre will provide active support to the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute, the National Marine Information and Research Centre (NATMIRC); The Benquela Current Commission (BCC); the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) and the UNAM Sam Nujoma Campus.

3️⃣ PILLAR 3 - RESEARCH AND INNOVATION: The Research and Innovation Pillar of BlueGrowth Namibia seeks to recruit a core group of 6 assistant researchers under the tutelage of and established researcher. The Assistant Researchers will each man one Blue Economy operational area of Fisheries & Aquaculture; Marine Transport & Safety; Marine Biotechnology; Ocean Off-shore Energy; Ocean Fresh Water, and; Coastal Tourism. This Pillar will conduct research into the evolving field of ocean literacy and blue economy as well as monitor & evaluate the work of the Resources Centre (by continuously feeding the Resources Centre with new information) as well as keeping abreast with developments in other regions. This focus will also involve tracking developments with regard to ocean literacy and blue economy in regional and international organisations such as: the UN and its specialised agencies (UNESCO, UNDP, FAO), WWF, The Commonwealth, African Union, SADC, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Atlantic Ocean Research (AORA). Moreover, this Pillar will spearhead the establishment of the Ocean Literacy-Blue Economy Park outside Hentiesbay to showcase: research & innovation facilities, scenario planning rooms, modelling and display chambers, auditorium and lecture rooms, lodging facilities, purpose-built career fair facilities and, hosting of Oceans Days, Marine Festivals, Sand Art Festivals and other oceans literacy enhancing interventions.