Letisia Alfeus
I hold a Master degree in Women, Gender & Development from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and a Bachelor degree in Social Work with the University of Namibia. As part of fulfillment of the Master programme, I undertook a dissertation on Formal Education a Panacea for teenage pregnancy: A Namibian Case Study, 2003. The BA dissertation was on the Effects of imprisonment on inmates 2001.
A development specialist with over 11 years of professional work experience working in a broad range development initiatives, both at technical (research, policy, grant-making) and strategic (management and leadership) levels. Currently employed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Namibia, serving as the Gender Programme Specialist. In this capacity, I led, oversee and technically provide support to the Government of Namibia including the Country’s National Gender Machinery and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
Among other achievements includes: Providing leadership in the Male involvement initiative addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) and promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR); Providing technical support for mainstreaming of gender, youth issues and male involvement in national planning frameworks such as the National Gender Policy, National Policy on Sexual, Reproductive and Child Health, National Plan of Action on GBV; Serving as a resource person on gender, youth and sexual and reproductive health at various platforms; Managing community mobilization programmes for addressing GBV including harmful cultural and traditional practices.
I participated in and contributed to various local research studies and gender sector assessments namely; Gender Assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Education, Health (draft); National statistical profile on men and women in Namibia; Members of Parliament regional field visit assessments; Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) study on Traditional Practices that influence GBV (2009); led the adaptation of the SADC Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit (2011). I steered the development of a module GBV. CCN framework
I also provided technical inputs in the development of several reports such as; Namibia Country Report on Beijing (2015); 2nd National Conference on Gender based violence in Namibia (2015); Namibian United Nations Country Team (UNCT) 2014; UN CEDAW (2014); Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Programme Evaluation Report (2012); Donor reports (Swedish and Luxemburg; 2008/9).
On a part-time basis, I tutored at Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) a Common Wealth Programme on Gender, Youth and Development (2013); lectured on Gender and Intercultural Social Work at the University of Namibia, (2012).; UNFPA Annual Standard Progress report (2014);
I am currently pursuing a PhD programme in Sociology with the University of Free State, South Africa. The Project Working Title is: Investigating Male Engagement as a Strategy for the containment of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Namibia – exploring content, prospects and predicaments. My research interests are on masculinities, intimate partner violence and male engagement strategy especially in Africa but on other continents as well.