News
The Republic of Namibia, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) and the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretariat, held meetings on 20 and 21 June to make plans for the 13th Ordinary Session of the AMCOW Executive Committee (EXCO). The Executive Committee of AMCOW comprises the President of the Council and 15 other members—three members elected from each of the five sub-regions of Africa on a rotational basis.
Currently, the Republic of Namibia holds the position of AMCOW’s Presidency for 2021 to 2023, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, H.E Carl Hermann Gustav Schlettwein. He was appointed as AMCOW President during the 12th General Assembly of AMCOW in 2021. According to AMCOW’s Rules of Procedure and Tradition, the President hosts the Ordinary Session of the Executive Committee (EXCO). The meeting traditionally falls between two General Assemblies – the one that elected them and the one to which they hand over the Presidency.
During the strategic planning meeting, the Executive Secretary of AMCOW, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, apprised the AMCOW President of the progress of AMCOW’s programmes. He reported the significant outcomes of the just concluded 9th World Water Forum – a major one being the dialogue with the UN Permanent Representatives on the proposal for a UN Special Envoy on Water, among others. Also, the AMCOW President and the delegation from the Secretariat conducted an induction to receive the Executive Director of the Ministry for Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Republic of Namibia, Mrs Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata as the new Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and the Acting Deputy Executive Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Maria Amakari as the Alternate Chair for Namibia.
At the end of the two days, AMCOW Secretariat and the Presidential team developed a plan of action for organising the 13th EXCO. AMCOW expects that all members of the EXCO across the sub-regions will convene in Namibia from 11-13 October 2022.
The roles of the EXCO include to:
- deliberate on the decisions and recommendations of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and forward required decisions and issues for the deliberations of the Governing Council;
- ensure that decisions of the Council are implemented;
- endorse the programs and budgets for the approval of the Council;
- decide on arrangements for the sessions of the Council, and
- decide on strategic directions of the constituent organs of AMCOW.
