staff profiles of mrc

Mr Michael Linso Lawrence Conteh Biography

	Research Interests Gender and Law Gender, HIV and AIDs and Human Rights Culture and Religion Gender-based Violence Sexuality and Reproductive Health Human Trafficking Gender and Governance
	Consultancies Consultancy to Develop the National Plan of Action on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Human Trafficking and its M&E Plan, 2010 HIV/AIDS Training for School Principals, Educators, Curriculum Developers, Counsellors and Advisory teachers in all the 13 Regions of Namibia, 2006. (Commissioned by HIV/AIDS Management Unit (HAMU), Ministry of Education, Namibia. Consultancy to provide technical assistance and to accompany the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus of the National Council of Namibia on their Outreach Programme to the following regions: Erongo, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Hardap, Karas, Ohangwena, Caprivi, Kavango, and Khomas, 3 – 21 August 2009. The objective of the trip was to educate and share information with citizens of Namibia on human trafficking, taking into consideration the FIFA 2010 World Cup that was held in South Africa; Child labour; Sustainable development; Baby dumping; Voter Education for Elections, Youth upliftment by the Media and Value systems. Consultancy to accompany and document the trip of the National Council Parliamentarians on a Fact Finding Mission on Human Trafficking in the United Kingdom from 8 – 17 August 2008. The mission culminated in the drafting of a White Paper on Human Trafficking for Namibia and enactment of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) Consultancy to develop fact sheets on gender issues, prepare and present a briefing for Members of Parliament of the National Assembly on “Gender and its linkages to Gender Based Violence, Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS and Poverty”, July 2010. Gender Based Violence Training of Trainers (TOT) for Women’s Action for Development (WAD) Community Voices, February 2009
	Teaching assignments Contemporary Social Issues Core Curriculum (Gender Component), Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Local Sustainable Development Course, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
Room: E031 Phone: 061 206 3951 Fax: 061 206 3050 Email: mconteh@unam.na Ekuyami2004@yahoo.co.uk	Biography in brief Michael Conteh holds a Masters degree in Development Studies with specialisation in Women, Gender, Development and Poverty Studies from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Hague, The Netherlands. As a Researcher/lecturer and a Gender Specialist, Mr. Conteh has 9 years experience conducting research and training on women's issues in Namibia, coordinating donor funding for the gender and HIV and AIDS Project, capacity building of relevant Government line Ministries, local NGOs, FBOs and CBOs, on social and developmental issues such as HIV/AIDS, Women’s Property and Inheritance rights, human and child trafficking, Child Labor, national pride, local sustainable development, poverty and gender issues, to mention but a few. Mr. Conteh has demonstrated extensive knowledge in developing Constituency Plans for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), gender sensitization, awareness and gender mainstreaming training workshops, Training of Trainers (TOT), gender budgeting, Community advocacy and mobilization. He is skilled in conducting focus group discussions, development of gender related materials and report writing. Mr. Conteh is currently the Coordinator of the Gender Training and Research Program (GTRP), Social Sciences Division (SSD) at the Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC), University of Namibia (UNAM).
	Project supervision & co-supervision Menopause Research Study (2008) Field Work Supervisor and Team leader, Caprivi Region Steering Committee for implementation of the research Service Delivery Assessment Survey, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), 2007 Steering Committee and Research Team Member Field Work Supervision Southern African Migration Project (SAMP), Cross Border Trade Survey (2006) Steering Committee and Research Team Member Field Work Supervision Data Analysis and Report Writing Understanding Violent Crimes against Women and Girls among Convicted Prisoners in Namibia: Implications for Prevention and Treatment (2006) Research project by Ministry of Safety and Security, University of Namibia, and Women Action for Development (WAD) Served on the steering committee and conducted field work in five prisons in Namibia Data analysis and report writing Documenting Women’s Participation in the Liberation Struggle of Namibia (2004 - 2010) Organisation of the strategic planning seminar on documenting women’s participation in the liberation struggle of Namibia Supervising of enumerators and overall coordination of the field work activities

Curriculum Vitae

Qualifications:

University Training

2005:Master of Arts Development Studies, (with Distinction for Research Paper). Specialisation: Women, Gender, Development and Poverty Studies, Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Hague, The Netherlands.

2002: Specialised Postgraduate Diploma in Gender and Development Studies (Upper Second), University of Namibia.

Majors: Gender Research Methods and Training of Trainers (TOT)

2000: Bachelor of Arts Degree (Upper Second), University of Namibia.

Majors: Political Science and History.

Certificate Courses

Women’s Leadership Skills Training, Graduate School, Washington DC, 23 April 2010

Membership to Organizations

Member of the Association of Women in Development (AWID), (International based women’s network), 2003 to date

Vice Chairperson of the Board, Gender and Media Southern Africa, Namibia Chapter (GEMSANAM), 2008, to date

Board Member of the Namibia Voices for Development (NVD), 2008 to date

Board Member, Namibia Pots of Hope (Community Based Organisation working on Rural Poverty and HIV and AIDS), 2008 to date

Special Award

Recipient of the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on the theme “Women and the Law: The US Experience” April 19 – May 7, 2010.

Recent Professional Activities

Content Editor Revised National Gender Policy, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare 2009.

Publications

Articles:

Conteh, M. and Amoo, SK (2010), “Property Rights of Women in Namibia and HIV/AIDS”: A Myth or a Reality? (In Review, Botswana Law Journal)
Conteh, M. (2009) “Self Help Housing Initiative: The Case of Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia” (submitted)

Chapters in Books:

Conteh, M. (2009), “Child trafficking, child prostitution and the potential dangers of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa” In Ruppel, O (Ed). Children’s Right in Namibia. Windhoek: Macmillan Education Namibia, ISBN978-99916-0-0891-4, p 375-390
Conteh, M, (2005) “Women and the Media” in Iipinge, E. and Le Beau, D. (Eds), Beyond Inequalities: Women in Namibia, Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) and Gender Training and Research Program, University of Namibia, Windhoek/Harare, ISBN1-77910026-4

Books:

Conteh, M. Iipinge , E, and Le Beau, D. (2005), Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in Namibia, Multidisciplinary Research Centre, Gender Training and Research Program and Department of Sociology, Pollination Publishers/UNAM, Windhoek, pp243, ISBN: 99916-63-69-X
LeBeau, D. (2004), Structural Conditions for the Progression of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Namibia, Conteh, M (Ed.), Multidisciplinary Research Centre, Gender training and Research Program, Pollination Publishers/UNAM, pp89, ISBN: 99916-63-71-1

Research Reports:

A Baseline Assessment of Human Trafficking in Namibia (2009), A Nationally Representative Qualitative Assessment, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Windhoek.

Conteh, M. (2005), Social Capital, Poverty and Women’s Participation: The Case of Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) (Unpublished MA Thesis, Forthcoming).

Conteh, M. (2000), Namibia National Student Organisation (NANSO) Led Students’ 1988 Boycott, BA Thesis, History Department, University of Namibia.

Conference Papers:

Conteh, M. (2009), Gender Stereotype and Equal Sharing of Opportunities a presentation made at the 1st Girl Child Conference for School Learners in all 13 Regions of Namibia, Swakopmund, 26 – 28 August 2009 (Organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare).

Conteh, M. Iipinge, E. and Shapaka, J. (1999), Gender Perspectives in Law and Violence, Conference Report, Gender Training and Research Program, University of Namibia.

Conteh, M. (2004), Women Face Discrimination from Cradle to Coffin: Women’s Rights to Property in Namibia, a paper presented at Women’s Rights Under Customary Law Workshop, organised by Legal Resources Centre and Canadian Bar Association, 2-4 March 2004, Lusaka, Zambia.

Training Manuals:

Conteh, M, and Mwilima F (2009) Fact Sheets on Gender Related Issues, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and Multidisciplinary Research Centre, Gender Training and Research Program, Social Sciences Division, University of Namibia, Windhoek.

Conteh M, (2009) A Work Book on Human Trafficking, Child Labour and Gender Related issues for Parliamentary Women’s Caucus of the National Council of Namibia. Multidisciplinary Research Centre, Gender Training and Research Program, Social Sciences Division, University of Namibia, Windhoek

Conteh M, et al (2009), A Training Manual on Gender Based Violence for Women’s Action for Development Community Voices. Multidisciplinary Research Centre, Gender Training and Research Program, Social Sciences Division, University of Namibia, Windhoek.