Erongo council partners with WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Erongo Regional Council signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) through which the two parties will work together to boost sustainable food security locally through the development of food production projects in the region.

The aims of the partnership is to address the key drivers of food and nutrition insecurity; and stunt the long-term trends of rising hunger through emergency preparedness, market access, distribution, and finally consumption.

“It is further aimed at creating livelihood opportunities and building resilience through implementation of new solutions and strategies to transform food systems,” WFP Namibia country director, George Fedha, told members of the council.

According to Fedha Namibia, with its population of 2,3 million people, is still challenged with food security and nutrition. In fact, the country is ranked 70th out of 107 countries in the 2020 Global Hunger Index.

"Forty-two percent of Namibians are malnourished, which is aggravated by unemployment and poverty. The last decade of economic slumps, prolonged drought and then Covid-19 pandemic has not been helpful in attempts to address food insecurity, which became a matter of emergency response instead of future security. On top of that the pandemic and east European war may trigger further food price increases that will have considerable impact on the vulnerable and poor. For this reason, there needs to be a transformation of sustainable food systems in Namibia, which requires stronger collaboration between the government, policymakers, researchers, private sector, farmers and workers."

Fedha explained that the WFP’s participation is based on four pillars, namely rural transformation which will include provision of technology, finance and insurance, as well as market creation, for small-scale farmers; infrastructure and emergency planning in context of climate change; the development of skills and nutritional understandings; and the involvement of woman and youth. This is what the MoU is guided by. The WFP has signed similar agreements with seven other regions to date.

The chief regional officer of the Erongo Regional Council, Habate Doëses, said that the region has various initiatives to establish food security and also want to ensure it was in a position to help other regions in need.

“We can help make Erongo a food basket for Namibia,” Fedha responded.

He stated that the council will identify and assist access to the various existing programmes, and that the WFP will be able to assist those involved with advise, expertise and finance. He said there are several success stories in the country today.

He also said new ideas will be recommended through the involvement and empowerment of local stakeholders. Ideas that are unsustainable will also be identified to avoid the loss of money and energy, and redirect focus on workable sustainable projects.

Arandis constituency councilor and member of the council management committee, Benitha Imbamba, agreed that Erongo had a lot of potential for such a partnership to bear fruit and said the council looks forward to putting it to work.