Strengthening economic development strategies
The City of Windhoek (CoW) and the Men by the Side of the Road (MSR) signed a Memorandum of Agreement in an effort to strengthen local capacity economic development strategies.The MSR initiative started in 2007 and aims to provide members with skill development opportunities that are designed to improve the chance of finding job opportunities to re-enter the job market.
“These services include assistance for CV writing, making copies and writing application letters, as well as interviewing, mentoring, facilitating training at vocational training institutes and connecting potential candidates to jobs,” documents from the most recent council meeting state.
Since its inception, MSR has filled more than 300 full-time jobs, as well as 1 516 temporary and part-time job placements. More than 483 members have been sent to various training programmes and about 20 members are running their own successful small businesses.
MSR experienced a significant decline in donor funding for its programmes but still aims to be of service. They approached the Economic Development Division last year to discuss possible areas of collaboration between the two organisations.
“MSR wants to find a solution to have the skills to continue making an impact in the communities,” according to the documents.
The areas where the two parties will cooperate include the provision of ad hoc office space to set up temporary computers for members of the MSR to conduct registrations. The parties are also looking at the facilitation of entrepreneurship training and mentorship and sharing of information on opportunities for youth development and social services. Currently, the MSR has an office one day a week at the Small Business Information Centre in Soweto.
This partnership will create better circumstances for economic growth towards job creation and poverty reduction by using local resources and talents.