01 Oct 2022

The ACEN News Circular for October 2022 provides updates on administrative, industry, and policy matters, focusing on enhancing operations and member engagement.

1. General and Membership Updates:

   • ACEN confirmed office hours as 8:00–13:00, Monday to Friday, and encouraged members to verify contact details for correspondence.
   • Heiko Klink was welcomed to the ACEN Council, while Josef Ndapoita was thanked for his service as his term ended.

2. Contractual Documentation – PROCSA:
   Updates to Annexure C Fee Scales for Engineers (V1.2) and Project Managers (V1.1) were distributed to members in July 2022, ensuring standardized professional practices.

3. Standardized Fee Claim Template:
   A preferred Fee Account Template for claim submissions was circulated to members to ensure consistency in documentation.

4. Internship Incentive Program:
   The program reimburses member firms a percentage of costs for supervising interns. Firms must submit annual reports detailing the type of work performed, internship duration, and outcomes.

5. Marketing and Social Media Engagement:

   • ACEN launched a LinkedIn presence to complement its interactive Facebook page, encouraging members to share project news and job openings.
   • An article was published in the August Housefinder to promote the association and its activities.

6. Membership Termination Policy:

   • Members with unpaid fees by June face immediate membership termination.
   • Reapplication requires repaying outstanding balances and completing a three-month probation period.
   • Firms voluntarily terminating membership before March will avoid penalties when reapplying the following year.

7. FIDIC Africa Infrastructure Conference:
   ACEN shared directives and updates from the annual conference to encourage member participation in regional development initiatives.

8. Liaison with CIF:
   ACEN disseminated an invitation for a workshop on the Draft Code of Good Practice related to the Public Procurement Act, aimed at fostering collaboration and compliance.

9. Engineering Council of Namibia (ECN):

   • Updates to the Professions’ (Engineering) Act include legal entity registration and CPD point requirements, with ECN drafting interim policies ahead of the Act’s enactment.
   • Proposed hourly tariff increases remain pending Ministry of Works and Transport approval.
   • ACEN representatives Blanché Hanstein-Kaber and Erastus Haludilu will provide updates on ECN activities.

10. Liaison with the Department of Works (DoW):

    • Outstanding matters from meetings with the Ministry of Works and Transport were referred to the ECN for action.
    • Legal disputes over Ministry directives on invoice submission led ACEN to commission a legal opinion, currently under review.

11. Membership Fees:

    • Total collected fees for 2022/2023 amounted to N$567,176.23.
    • Two member firms had their memberships terminated for non-payment.

Description:

The October 2022 newsletter reflects ACEN’s focus on standardizing practices, engaging members through social media and marketing, and supporting professional growth through internship incentives. By addressing policy matters like the Public Procurement Act and ECN updates, ACEN reinforces its commitment to improving the consulting engineering sector in Namibia.