Saara Kashaka

I am an Economist with over 20 years of experience in global economy analysis, regional integration, investment risk & analytics, retirement fund administration and investments. I am an independent thinker, open-minded, self-motivated, dependable disciplined person and self-driven. Moreover, I am proficient in the use of a variety of software programs and have expertise doing economic research, performing investment analysis, managing portfolios, risks, and managing pension funds. In addition to my role as a Principal Economist, I am the Principal Officer and Trustee of the Bank of Namibia Provident Fund, on a part-time basis, a position that exposes me to the Pension Fund sector and its activities on an unrestricted basis. I am currently enrolled for a Masters of Science in Oil and Gas, with energy management studies with the University of East London.

• May-23, Certificate in “How to be an Expert in the Oil & Gas Industry” Energy Academic on Udemy
• November 2021, Training on Critical & Strategic thinking & problem solving
• October 2021, Panel data econometrics (by Prof J Hinaunye Eita - University of Johannesburg)
• August 2021, Workshop on Integrated National Financing Frameworks in Africa by UN Institute for Training and Research
• July 2021, Financial Programming AFRITAC/IMF
• April 2021, Begin the Project Management Benchmark by Franklin Covey Namibia
• December 2020, Econometrics Refresher by Prof J Hinaunye Eita - University of Johannesburg
• October 2020, The FIM Bill for Retirement Funds Webinar Training Series
• 4 May – 5 June, 2020, Introduction to Monetary Policy Analysis (MEFMI e-learning)
• June 2019, Economic Issues in Regional Integration Regional Technical Assistance Centre (RTAC) in Southern Africa (AFRITAC/ International Monetary Fund (IMF))
• April 2019, Trustee Training in Investments (Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia)
• January 2016, Macroeconomic Diagnostics by Regional Technical Assistance Centre (RTAC) in Southern Africa (AFRITAC/IMF)
• Principal Officers Training (Training Solutions)
• Advanced Trustee Training (Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia)
• Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia 5th Annual Conference 2011
• Managing an External Asset Manager Program (World Bank)
• Advanced Portfolio Analytics for Fixed Income and Credit Risk Management (World Bank)
• Advanced Strategic Asset Allocation: Workbench (World Bank)
• Fixed Income Risk Management (World Bank)
• Risk, Performance and Reporting (World Bank)
• Indexation, risk and performance (World Bank)
• Supervisory Skills (in-house Bank of Namibia)
• Strategic Asset Allocation (World Bank)
• Operational Risk management (Marcus Evans)
• Investment Analysis and Performance Measurement for Reserves Management (World Bank)
• Developing liquidity in the secondary markets' operations (Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI)

• 2007: Awarded the Most Outstanding Individual Performer Award of the Bank of Namibia (Category:Team Work). I was also the Team Leader of this project: Strategic Asset Allocation
• 2002-2003: Awarded a bursary by the Swedish Foundation (through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to study Master of Economics at the University of London.
• 1998-1999 Awarded a bursary by the Standard Bank Group to complete my studies in Economics at the University of Namibia.

• I have been serving as an alternative member of Namibia's Government Negotiation Team (GNT) on petroleum exploration permits, representing the Bank of Namibia since 2017. GNT's mandate is to negotiate on behalf of the Namibian government on the terms and substance of the Petroleum agreement, which is signed between the government and the Petroleum Exploration and Production firms.
• I served as a member of the interim Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) to oversee the procurement of Umbrella Provident Fund products as well as the administration of the Motor Vehicle Fund (MVA).
• I serve on the Ohangwena Development Trust as a trustee (ODT). The latter's mission is to advance development in the Ohangwena Region and to assist adolescents, women, vulnerable and handicapped individuals, and the elderly.

• Mr. Erwin Naimhwaka, Deputy Director : Policy Research and Financial Sector Development, Bank of Namibia, Erwin.Naimhwaka@BON.COM.NA, +264 61 283 5137, Immediate Supervisor in the current role
• Ms. Leonie Dunn, Deputy Governor and Chairperson of the Bank of Namibia Provident Fund, Bank of Namibia, leonie.dunn@bon.com.na, +264 61 283 5283, Ex-colleague and mentor
• Ms Elsie Kambala, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Unit Trust, Old Mutual Investment Group Namibia (Pty) Ltd, ekambala@oldmutual.com.na, +264 81 260 9105, Ex-colleague and mentor

• Public speaking: I am part of the Bank of Namibia Toastmasters Club. I have delivered 13 speeches to date.
• International travel: Make and plan annual trips to visit at least one country to experience new cultures, food, and drinks.
• Singing: I am part of church choirs and Bank of Namibia choir.
• Church volunteer service: An active member of the Missionary sub-committee of Hosianna Lutheran Parish church.