N.B.: This High-Level meeting is by invitation only from the United Nations and the Government of Namibia.
The High-Level Meeting, African Agriculture in the 21st Century: Meeting the Challenges, Making a Sustainable Green Revolution, is scheduled to be held on 9 and 10 February 2009 in Windhoek, Namibia.
The Meeting will open at 9:00 hours on Monday, 9 February 2009 at the Safari Hotel, Aviation Road, Eros Airport, Windhoek and all meeting sessions will be held at this venue including discussions on sub-themes 1.1. and 1.2. (on 9 February 2009 - afternoon) and 2.1. and 2.2. (on 10 February 2009 - morning).
All participants need to send their digital passport photograph along with attendance form ahead of their arrival. The e-mail addresses to send them to is: francia@un.org with copy to wang24@un.org, letitia.britz@yahoo.co.uk and letitia@dea.met.gov.na.
Upon their arrival in Windhoek, all meeting participants are requested to register and obtain their badges at the Registration Desk located in the Safari Hotel lobby. The registration desk will be open from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Sunday, 8 February 2009 and from 8:00 am on Monday, 9 February 2009.
Participants are advised that only those holding valid meeting badges will have access to the meeting rooms at the Safari Hotel.
Visas are issued by the Namibian Embassy, Consulate or other consular authority in the country of residence. All participants are requested to obtain their entry visa to Namibia if they need one, as well as any transit visa, prior to their departure.
All foreigners entering Namibia must have a valid passport. Detailed information on visa application procedures and related application forms can be obtained from the Namibian Embassy, Consulate or other consular authority in the country of residence.
To facilitate the issuance of a visa, a copy of the invitation of the co-organizers and/or a copy of the nomination acceptance letter should be attached to the visa request. All participants are requested to initiate their visa application at their earliest convenience to allow sufficient time for the processing of visa requests.
For participants who do not have a Namibian Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence, the Namibian authorities will arrange visas to be issued on arrival at the airport in Namibia.
It should be also noted that almost all flights to Windhoek are not direct and participants will need to stay in Johannesburg, South Africa overnight to catch a flight for Windhoek. There is a transit hotel where participants can stay without a South African visa: Intercontinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, Tel +27 11 961 5400, Fax +27 11 961 5401, webpage: www.ichotelsgroup.com. If they fail to obtain a room in this hotel, they are advised to get a visa for South Africa (if needed).
SAFARI HOTEL
Aviation Road, Eros Airport
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: (264)61 2968000; Fax: (264) 61 235652;
Email: safari@safarihotel.com.na
Website: www.safarihotelsnamibia.com
Arrangements have been made to book all participants into the Safari Hotel where the Meeting will be held. When booking a hotel room, participants should mention that they are attending the Ministry of Environment and Tourism CSD meeting. Bookings can be made at the following:
SAFARI HOTEL
Tel: (264)61 2968000; Fax: (264) 61 235652;
Email: reservations@safarihotel.com.na or reservations1@mweb.com.na
Website: www.safarihotelsnamibia.com
Participants will pay for their own accommodation. The hotel offers accommodation at a price of N$ 552.00 per standard room per day (at the current exchange rate this translates roughly to US$69.00), N$ 768.00 per business room per day (roughly US$85.00) and N$ 880.00 (roughly US$98.00) per luxury room per day. All rooms have bathrooms en suite and all rates include a buffet breakfast. The hotel provides a shuttle service to and from the city center every half an hour from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.
If you encounter any problems regarding hotel reservation, please contact Letitia Britz at: letitia.britz@yahoo.co.uk and letitia@dea.met.gov.na at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Namibia.
In case there are no more rooms at the Safari Hotel, the following hotels can be contacted:
Auas City Hotel, Tel: (264) 61 – 239768 / 239805
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............Mon. – Thu.: N$ 400.00, Fri. – Sun.: N$ 300.00
Double Room...........................................Mon. – Thu.: N$ 520.00, Fri. – Sun.: N$ 420.00
Hotel Pension Christoph, Tel: (264) 61-240777
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)..............N$ 395.00
Double Room..........................................N$ 585.00
Furstenhof Hotel, Tel: (264) 61-237380
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 918.00
Double Room...........................................N$ 1,084.00
Hotel Heinitzburg, Tel: (264) 61-249597
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 1373.48
Double Room (Pool Side).....................N$ 2,624.00
Double Room (Normal).........................N$ 2,014.00
Hotel Pension Handke, Tel: (264) 61-234904
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 380.00
Double Room...........................................N$ 580.00
Hotel Pension Palmquell, Tel: 061-234374
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 615.00
Double Room...........................................N$ 497.50
Safari Court Hotel, Tel: (264) 61-2968000
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 610.00
Double Room (Standard)......................N$ 760.00
Double Room (Business).....................N$ 800.00
Thuringerhof Hotel, Tel: (264) 61-226093
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 620.00
Double Room...........................................N$ 795.00
Roof of Africa, Tel: (264) 61-254708
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 545.00
Double Room...........................................N$ 695.00
Windhoek Country Club, Tel: (264) 61-2055911
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 1560.00
Double Room...........................................N$ 1870.00
Kalahari Sands Hotel, Tel: (264) 61-2800000
Single Room (Incl. Breakfast)...............N$ 1010.00
Double Room...........................................N$ 1125.00
Participants will be provided with transportation from the Hosea Kutako International Airport to their respective hotels upon arrival and departure. Shuttle buses with displayed signs will be provided for their convenience and the participants need to make themselves known to the people servicing the meeting who will be stationed next to each bus.
Please inform the meeting organizers in advance of any special dietary needs when sending the completed attendance form.
Allowances/DSA shall be paid on the first day of the Meeting to participants sponsored by the UN Secretariat, in accordance with the United Nations Rules and Regulations, enabling participants to cover their expenses during their stay in Namibia. Should the funded participants change their plan and leave Namibia earlier than originally authorised, the UN Secretariat shall reserve the right to reclaim the portion of the allowance payment beyond the entitlement for their stay in Namibia.
The Namibian dollar is equivalent/pegged to the South African Rand and both are used in Namibia. It should be noted that banks are closed over the weekends at Namibian airports. Hence participants should change enough money at the airport in South Africa to cover their initial costs (US$1.00 = N$9.00 as of December 23, 2008). Please note that this rate may change. There is no need to convert South African Rands to Namibian dollars before making a payment in Namibia. As some participants may be arriving earlier, there is an opportunity to exchange money at the banks in the city.
Expected temperatures: it will be mid-summer. It may be warm at night but the days are usually clear and warm with temperatures reaching 27°C by noon. There is a high possibility of rain during this time of the year.
Health requirements: Precautions may be taken against (a) malaria and (b) yellow fever, though not essential. The organizers shall not be responsible for health insurance coverage and participants must have adequate insurance to cover any medical services required.
For those who would want to stay on for a few days more, note that there are a number of safari lodges near Windhoek that provide opportunities for game drives and game viewing. There are also daily flights to the coastal areas as well as to the lodges in the Namib Desert.
Transportation to and from the Meeting venue will be provided in the morning and evening, respectively, for those participants accommodated in hotels other than the one in the Conference Center.
All participants are informed that the meeting will be conducted in English and French. Simultaneous interpretation will be available.
All relevant materials, including this information note as well as Statements by Ministers and presentations of resource persons, will be posted on the Meeting web site.
The Meeting outcome documents are currently being prepared and will be published on the website in due course.
The address of the website is http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sdissues/africa/events/index.htm.
Statements by Ministers invited to speak at the High-Level Segment are requested not to exceed 5 minutes. It will be possible to have full statements circulated at the Meeting.
The co-organizers have invited a number of experts to kick-start the discussion and their introductory presentations should not exceed 7 minutes. Discussions by all participants are envisaged to be interactive and substantive and their interventions should not exceed 3 minutes.
Background information papers, research reports or presentations may be submitted and will be circulated by the Meeting co-organizers.
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