Social Sciences Division

Objectives of the Division

The broad objectives of the Division are to:

• To provide specialized and applied research on policies in support of national development goal
• Conduct academic and theoretical applied research as well as contributing to teaching in priority areas;
• Contribute to publications and dissemination of research findings
• Conduct capacity building and develop a cadre of competent Namibian experts in priority social sciences research fields
• Carry out consultancy, community service and other advisory services to the public
• Foster collaboration in social sciences research and development with other institution in the country and abroad

Research Programs

The Social Sciences Division has five operational research programs described below.

Regional and Local Development (Program Leader: Dr. Kenneth Matengu)

Regional and Local Development is an action oriented research program aimed at understanding and analyzing the role of the development policy of the Republic of Namibia, in relation to the implementation of decentralization, NDPs, rural development strategies and the transformation into a knowledge economy.

Additionally, the adoption of information and communication technologies as a development tool also forms part of the program’s research focus. The program also investigates impediments to cross-border cooperation of border towns and the anomalies of borders and borderland identity. In view of decentralization of immediate functions namely, rural water supply and development, and sanitation, for the year 2009, the program will mainly focus on analyzing the:

• State of Rural Communities’ Access to Portable Water
• Perils and Promises of Community-Based Water Management
• Barriers to Decentralization: Analysis of Bottlenecks to the Integration of Decentralized Functions into Local Government.

Land (Program Leader: Mr. Martin Shapi)

The core function of the Land Program is to conduct research on land matters in Namibia, especially on land reforms (focusing on equity, resettlement policies and gender dimensions). The program works closely with SADC institutions to come up with contemporary policy reform options in support of Government’s land reform policy. To fulfill its mandate, the program, for the year 2009 will focus on:

• The scramble of Land in the Northern regions of Namibia
• Impact of land allocation and management in communal areas of Namibia
• Women’s access to land acquisition in the communal areas after Communal Land Act, No. 5 of 2002
• Assessment of resettlement program

Education (Program Leader: Dr. Kenneth Matengu)

Educational change and reform in Namibia have rarely had so much prominence within public policy discussion that it has been over the past five years. Bearing in mind the complexity of education and its much needed positive impact on economic growth, poverty alleviation and employment creation, it has never been divorced from development and political confrontations. Educational change is a ubiquitous debate in Namibia. Yet action to bring about quality educational change is seemingly an elusive target.

This research action-oriented program aims to investigate the system of education in Namibia in terms of its quality preparation, coordination, school and learner preparation and the trajectories of teacher perceptions and the idea of a learning nation. In addition, this program will focus on the role of higher education in addressing underdevelopment and poverty, as well as the effect the absence of ECD development and education is having on the quality of the Education System in Namibia. The program works closely with the Faculty of Education, UNAM.

Gender Training and Research (Program Leader: Mr. Michael Conteh)

The GTRP is an educational as well as research programme within the Multi-disciplinary Research Centre (MRC) at the University of Namibia. Since Independence there has been an increasing recognition of the importance of integrating gender issues in Namibia’s overall economic and social development policies. The Namibian Constitution is based on the principle of equal rights and obligations for women and men.

Equality between women and men is a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice; and also a necessary and fundamental pre-requisite for equality, development and peace. As a response to these challenges, the GTRP has carried out numerous gender-related training programmes aimed at developing gender awareness at the local, regional and national levels since 1995. The main objectives of the program are:

• To develop and teach interdisciplinary and short courses on Gender and Development in UNAM curriculum and for relevant stakeholders.
• To enable UNAM students to gain in-depth understanding and experience in gender and HIV and AIDS research through internships and fieldwork activities.
• To provide postgraduate training for Namibian researchers and University staff and student, government officials, NGO staff members and individuals with demonstrated potential and commitment to gender analysis and HIV and AIDS research.
• To develop linkages with national and international institutions involved in gender and HIV and AIDS related training, research and policy formulation.
• To promote awareness of gender issues among the general public through improved dissemination of research findings.
• To improve the teaching and research facilities of UNAM in order to support gender and HIV and AIDS research and training.
• To improve the socio-economic and legal situation of women in Namibia.
• To reinforce academic links and networking in Southern Africa and Globally.

Social Epidemiology (Program Leader: Mr. Gert van Rooy)

This program was born out of the Poverty and Livelihood Program which primarily focused on research investigation dealing with HIV/Aids and poverty. The change was necessitated with respect to the nature of the current and future vision of the program and ultimately that of the Division. Although the program lacks core funding it was successful in having long term research projects with a number of donors.

The program was also successful in sending two UNAM staff members to Amsterdam for MSC- degrees.  With the new vision of the program it geared itself to facilitate policy that would enable low income earners to access proper medical healthcare. It also focuses on the understanding of the relationship between the drivers of poverty and HIV/Aids. This would ultimately help UNAM to contribute to the debate of HIV/Aids and its epidemiology. 

Major research activities of the Division since 2007:

• Publications (books 1); chapters in books (3); peer review publications (# 4); discussion (academic papers (# 4); technical (commissioned) reports(# 4); conference presentations (# 4);  editorial reviews (0); academic supervision (# 3)
• Original creative works (theoretical exposé/treaty (0); original creation of material/art works(# 0); novel/functional concept of product prototype(0); management/policy best practice (# 1)
• Research & Development (R&D), including commercialization of scientific knowledge (innovation(# 0); patent/IP(#  0); research management: conferences facilitated (# 3); research students assisted (# 12); income generated per research category: commissioned(N$5,460,042.60);
• Teaching and Community outreach (all staff members teaching in the disciplines of their expertise)