Constansia is a Namibia citizen with a challenging background who has become a successful advocate for women's rights and human rights, particularly focusing on empowering disadvantaged groups. She is a recipient of the Hubert Humphrey program scholarship and has over 17 years of experience in various professional roles, including work with the U.S. Human Rights Network and her involvement in policy reform for socio-economic sustainability. Currently, she serves on the executive committee of the African Humphrey Forum, aiming to address critical issues like domestic violence in Namibia by implementing effective support models.

1. Biography
Constansia is a Namibia citizen. Her background has been very difficult, but she has overcome those problems and
emerged a determined and successful young woman without a trace of self-pity. She has an awareness of the needs of others and
vitality to effect change for the benefit of others. Her genuine concern for the disadvantaged is demonstrated through her work in
empowering the poor, particularly women, in Namibia. Constansia is Namibia's 2012-2013 Hubert Humphrey Program Scholarship
recipient. With more than 17 years of experience in her professional field, she has demonstrated great potential for leadership. She
was selected as a mid-career professional from Namibia and placed at The Pennsylvania State University, one of the United States of
America's leading universities. During her time there she partook in graduate study, professional training and work experience. Her
primary focus was on International Law and Human Rights, Women’s Rights, Women Empowerment, Gender Equality, Domestic
Violence, Justice System to inform Policy Reform and Development for Socio-Economic, and Political sustainability.
Constansia graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a certificate in International Law and Human Rights and she is a
qualified Advocate in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She also holds an MBA in International Business from University of Wales,
Cardiff Institute, Wales, United Kingdom and a BA (Honors) in Business Studies from University of Sunderland, England, United
Kingdom.
International Law and Human Rights Work Experience, USA
Constansia gained extensive technical knowledge on both human rights-based approaches and the Taskforce roles. This provided her
with practical experience working for the US based non-profit organisation, the US Human Rights Network, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
www.ushrnetwork.org. She is familiar with the United Nations Human Rights principles and agreements to which Namibia is a
signatory, such as:
1. The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
2. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
3. The International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
4. The United Nations Convention against Torture (CAT) and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
5. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
6. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Constansia has built up on her technical knowledge and process system experience which is useful in assisting in the roles,
expectations and submission of nations periodic reports, that Namibia, as a Government, has to meet in fulfilling its principles and
agreements with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Constansia has active experience in ICCPR national/states
and shadow reports and processes at both Government and grassroots organisations level. Her skills are on education on information
advancing coalition work, resources and support for such reports development. Educations on national/state level case studies,
collaboration and collection of data, and how to utilise the ICCPR process to advance human rights issues. Constansia produced
updates on the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committee timeline for passage of 2013 Comphrensive U.S. Immigration Bill for the
organization. On joining the U.S. Human Rights Network, Constansia received training on the intersections of Macroeconomics and
Human Rights, the International Bill of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights offered by Rutgers Center for Women’s Global Leadership.
International and National Highlights have included:
Constansia remained active as part of her professional development, where she took up a professional affiliation working for Penn
State University Commission for Women. She specifically joined the Educational Equity Department, which serves as an advisory
group to the President of the University on the status of women at Penn State, advocates for women's concerns, and recommends
solutions. Leaving a legacy behind, she assisted the Commission for Women in developing and launching a new public awareness
project recognising Penn State Women with Influence. This project recognises women in positions of administrative and academic
leadership who have demonstrated a commitment in strategically advancing Penn State and also who exemplify the goals of the
Commission for Women.
Constansia is one of the five founders, and served volunteer member of the Steering Committee, started the African Humphrey
Forum 2012 in Washington D.C. USA on October 23
rd
, 2012. The forum is a vehicle for sub-Sahara African Humphrey midcareer
professionals and as leaders who have promised and agreed on areas of greatest potential for peril in sub-Saharan Africa.
Private Bag 12041, Suite#02, Ausspannplatz, Namibia
Mobile: +264 (0) 81-339-9422
Email: ctgbanda@yahoo.com
Constansia Hitjevi Banda

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All African Humphrey Fellow 2012, along with the past program alumni, have committed to working on three major issues affecting
the people of Africa: (i) to achieve universal education, (ii) to help eradicate poverty and hunger, and (iii) to combat corruption for the
sake of achieving good and lasting governance. She assisted the committee in developing a fully-fledged forum, which is recognised
and has the support of the International Institute of Education, the coordinator and the U.S. Department of State, the funder of the
Humphrey Fellowship Program.
Currently, Constansia is an official elected Executive Committee member of the African Humphrey Forum (AHF). She was elected on
May 4, 2013 at the Bolger Center, Maryland, USA. She is the Representative for Southern Africa under the Sub-Sahara Region and her
role, responsibilities and accountabilities are to:
 represent the AHF in Sub-Sahara's respective region with Alumni, community, Government, partners, and networks
 ensure communication is constant between these stakeholders and the forum
 be responsible for managing and accountable for projects and development programs in the designated region
 being accountable for strengthening the capacity of alumni to undertake work on the forum's behalf at community level
 assist the Financial Secretary of the forum in collecting membership contributions
Constansia has developed, for her home country, a similar and tested model in Pennsylvania, USA, to aid victims of domestic violence
in Namibia. Her objective is to implement this model to respond effectively to victims of domestic violence, educate stakeholders,
and raise awareness in the community, with the end goal to help eliminate the current prevailing and outrageous epidemic of
domestic violence in Namibia.
In Namibia, Constansia has over 17 years of experience and has had the opportunity to work as:
 a Compliance Auditor for the Namibia Training Authority;
 a Coordinator for Namibia Public Worker’s Union;
 a Lecturer at Polytechnic of Namibia;
 a Consultant for Namibia National Farmers Union, Consultant Project Management for Kambekura Famers Association
funded by UN Global Fund, and
 an independent Consultant for Omusati Co-Operative Farmers Association.