The Criteria and requirements outlined below form the basis upon which interested Local Authorities will be evaluated on when a Substantial Motivation of Interest to partake in the PILOT NCDS Project has been submitted to the ALAN office:
1. ALAN Membership
Applicants MUST be paid up members of both NALAO and ALAN and indicate support and commitment towards Associations.
2. Council Commitment & Support Toward Project
Local Authority must pass a council resolution to participate in the program to show that the whole council is behind the project, and the application letter must be co-signed by the Mayor and CEO.
Clear expression of interest to actively participate in the pilot phase and clear articulation on expected outcomes.
Have a vibrant business community that is willing to work on the project together with its council
3. Accessibility & Proximity
Preference to be given to municipalities that do not currently have partnerships with others with in the country, region and beyond
The size, scale and complexity of municipality and the enabling legislative frameworks are important. As the project is aimed for 3 Pilot Local Authorities
At this pilot stage, consideration is to be given to three municipalities in the same region, some kind of a cluster approach by geographic location. This is to ensure that the little resources available will cover all of them during fieldwork or supervision visits or workshops.
Indication of a cooperation culture and interventions with other municipalities in Namibia is of essence
4. Communication &Information Technology
Access to electronic communications and internet facilities
Information base or data bank on Demographics/Resident Survey; Economic and Social Conditions; Physical Attributes of City etc.
5. Citizens/Community Members Interactions/Relations
Existence in that local authority of an NGO community, or civil society organization that is willing to support and participate in the project. Such NGOs and Civic Organizations should write support letters to be submitted together with applications to the Project Selection Committee.
6. Finance & Good Financial Standing
Demonstrated good pratice in financial management and accountability including audited financial statements
Audited Accounts of at least 3 financial years, to be sent together with the application forms, as means to show that the municipality will account for use of money given to them for this project.
7. Local Economic Development Strategies
The Town should demonstrate clearly the need for an LED strategy, justifying for example by giving information about economic opportunities, growth trends, demand for services and products, investment trends in the past five years e.t.c.
Have in their employment a Local Economic Development Officer, or Investment Officer, or a person who is serving a similar function.
Commitment toward promotion of pro-poor policies, particularly in terms of urban governance, poverty reduction, local economic development, revenue generation and financial management's current position on or activities in advancing the LED Policy.
Current Marketing Strategies, tourism and Welcoming Infrastructure together with the status of established Strategic Planning Mechanisms and SWOT analysis tools.
8. Gender Consideration
Meaningful involvement of women at management and governance levels
Councils must therefore have at least a 40-50% representation of women councilors, or women in their senior management (heads of departments etc.)
