Welcome to FES Namibia
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
(FES) is the oldest of Germany’s ‘political foundations‘ and committed to the
basic values of social democracy and the labour movement.
As a private,
non-profit educational institution, ‘think tank’ and platform for political dialogue,
its mission is to promote democracy, development, social justice and peace
through capacity-building, policy research, public dialogue and international
exchange.
FES carries out its
international activities through a network of currently about 100 offices
world-wide. These work in close cooperation with the headquarters in Berlin and Bonn/Germany and local and
international partners.
The FES office in Namibia was established in
1989 on the eve of t Namibian Independence. At present it is staffed with one
expatriate and six local full-time employees.
Before 1989, i.e.
during South African apartheid rule in what was then known as South West
Africa, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung had already in various ways supported the
struggle against white minority rule and for an independent and democratic
Namibia. The subsequent establishment of an office was merely a logical step -
based on requests by our political partners. This step was firstly motivated by
the desire to support transition to a non-racial multiparty-democracy. Secondly,
the aim was to contribute to the transformation of the Namibian society into a
prosperous and just society with equal rights, equal opportunities and a decent
living standard for all.
On the whole, political
and administrative institutions in Namibia function reasonably well more than a
decade and a half after independence, which has been described as one of the
most exemplary political transitions in history,
Namibia can pride
itself on its political freedom and political stability, its modest, but steady
economic growth. Nevertheless, huge challenges remain, or rather become more
visible as racial oppression is no longer the determining factor of the
individual and collective destiny of Namibians. These challenges are of concern
to the political, economic and social arenas alike.
