Rundu: The Kavango West Regional Council (KWRC) and the Rundu Vocational Training Centre (RVTC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing skills development, service delivery, and project execution within the region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the agreement was formalized at the KWRC offices and outlines cooperation in areas such as project management, capacity building, industrial attachments, maintenance, construction, and short skills courses. Kavango West Chief Regional Officer Matheus Singambwe stated that the MoU officially documents the council's collaboration with RVTC to support practical delivery in council projects. He emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for trainees and using in-sourcing to benefit public institutions. Placements linked to ongoing works are expected to transform training into measurable services for communities.

Singambwe highlighted the priorities for the first year, which include establishing a placement pipeline for trainees on council maintenance and minor construction sites, joint scheduling for building repairs and essential services, and implementing skills access measures for marginalized applicants. RVTC will offer Recognition of Prior Learning for council staff, affordable short courses tailored to local needs, and maintain a continued intake and outreach program across the two Kavango regions.

Kavango West Regional Council Chairperson and Nkurenkuru Constituency Councillor, Fillipus Tenga, remarked that the success of the agreement relies on its implementation. He stressed the need for a clear plan with specific timelines, resources, and monitoring mechanisms. The Council expects quarterly progress updates from the Chief Regional Officer and RVTC to ensure tangible results.

Rundu VTC Centre Manager Kornelius Lukas mentioned that the partnership will expand access and improve outcomes for trainees from the two Kavango regions. He noted that RVTC draws a significant portion of its annual intake from these regions and will support placement targets and skills audits to align training with service gaps.

Singambwe outlined the next steps, which include publishing an implementation plan in the second quarter with defined milestones, resources, and reporting lines. Progress will be monitored quarterly, focusing on placement targets and audits to ensure that training translates into public value. He emphasized that local employment and hands-on training should be integrated into council facilities' maintenance and small construction tasks.