Civil Society Support Program (CSSP)
The participation of civil society is a crucial element of democracy. The concept of civic participation in governance is arguably the fundamental pillar in the promotion and protection of democratic governance. However, especially in the rural areas in Namibia, civil society organisations often lack the institutional capacities to play a meaningful role in the development of Namibia’s democracy. This hampers the rural CSOs’ capacities to meaningfully interact with Government at all levels.
The Civil Society Support Program (CSSP) therefore strengthens civil society in Namibia by providing institutional and programmatic technical support and training to mainly rurally based civil society organisations (CSOs). A further goal of the program is to strengthen CSOs’ interaction with Government on all levels.
In this endeavour, a collaborative network of about 65 well-trained and institutionally strong CSOs in all 13 regions of the country was established. These organisations are assisted in strengthening their advocacy skills through training and technical assistance. Furthermore, CSOs also receive organisational management skills training. In turn, this network of CSOs assists the NID in conducting civic education programs in the regions, such as, for example, awareness on anti-corruption.
The NID has developed an effective grant-award system including standardized grant application procedures, contracts, request and liquidation of funds and evaluation of sub-grantees and their programs and has, to date, awarded a total of 69 sub-grants to local CSOs. A training program for CSOs on the financial management of grants has been developed and is being used for training every grantee organization.
The NID is also assisting with the establishment of community media throughout Namibia, which are incorporated to significantly showcase, enhance and expand the reach of the NID’s civic education and other programs. The NID has so far set up community media in four regions (Erongo, Omaheke, Oshana and Karas). Presently, steering committees in all of these identified regions are in place. Stations in Omaheke and Erongo are now registered, and have received preliminary training in administration, as well as training on the production of radio programs, financial management and proposal writing.
The CSSP has recently been strengthened through the establishment of 12 Study Circles, that comprise of groups of people who share a common interest for a particular issue or have the same need to study the same subject.

Head Office:
7a Love Street., Central Windhoek
PO Box 11956
Klein Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: ++264 61 229117/8
Fax: ++264 61 229119
hunter@nid.org.na
http://www.nid.org.na
Regional Office:
1st Floor, Woermann House,
Sam Nujoma Avenue
PO Box 2217,
Swakopmund, Namibia
Tel: ++264 64 401079
Fax: ++264 64 462346
tkeulder@iway.na
http://www.nid.org.na