In early 2024, final-year UNAM student Daniel Munyanya completed a transformative internship with the Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC), a leading Namibian NGO dedicated to sustainable development and community empowerment. Under the mentorship of IRDNC staff, Daniel engaged in diverse activities including community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), conflict resolution, and transboundary conservation efforts. His experience highlighted IRDNC’s collaborative model, which unites local communities, government, and NGOs to promote conservation and rural livelihoods. The internship underscored IRDNC’s role as a catalyst for positive change in Namibia’s communal areas