Namibia – Berseba Village Council

The village council serves about 1500 residents. The council prides itself with females dominating in the council. The village is the capital of the Berseba electoral constituency, and also houses the constituency offices.

The council’s gender police is active, and the people within the council follow this policy. There are five councillors that who are elected into office, four of those are women and the other one is a man. The Mayor of the council is a female, so is the Deputy Mayor.

Berseba Village Council has two committees and both of them are chaired by women. The council lack the participation of youth and people with disabilities. They are working to involve them in the council.

Women are involved in the council and they are given platforms to participate. Approximately 51% and 71% women participate in the public consultations in the council. Such include community meetings, and the chairperson is a woman.

Of the total workforce, the council employs 70% men, 29% women and 1% youth. There are three women, out of four people, in the council’s management. The council’s financial accountant and assistant accountant are both women, and also the technical department is chaired by a woman. There is a good progress within the council under women’s supervision.

There are provisions for maternity leave but none for paternity leave. The council has a policy against sexual harassment. Even though no cases of sexual harassment have been reported within the council, the employees are fully aware of the policy against the phenomenon and they understand the consequences if the incidence was to be reported.

Berseba Village Council has allocated budget to mainstream gender-related projects from 2015 and 2016.

The council does not have an economic development plan. However, in order to help the community they have created jobs and have employed a number of men, women and youth. Moreover, the council has a climate control committee to help combat climate changes.

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