EIF hosts Grant e-voucher card issuance

The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) hosted the Urban Agriculture Grant e-voucher card issuance and terminal roll-out in Mariental, Hardap region.
It is part of the four regions identified to benefit from the Urban Agriculture Grant e-voucher card Issuance and terminal roll-out under the project titled “Strengthening Namibia’s food systems to recover from emergencies and disease-related shocks through the Build Back Better (BBB) programme”.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR), in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), launched the BBB programme with financial support from the Japanese Government.
The programme aims to improve the production of nutritious, high-value produce such as vegetables and fruits to address nutritional deficiencies affecting urban and peri-urban households. This initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Windhoek Municipality (Khomas), Swakopmund Municipality (Erongo), Rundu Town Council (Kavango East) and the Daweb Constituency (Maltahohe) in the Hardap region.
The rollout in the Hardap region will cover Maltahohe , Mariental, Gibeon District, and 14 beneficiaries have been identified to benefit from the project.
The e-voucher system terminal set-up in the four participating regions and issuance of the card to the beneficiaries, the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) will use the same platform to issue Grant contracts to the beneficiaries.
Delivering the welcoming remarks was honourable Salomon Boos, regional councillor of Aranos Constituency, who expressed his appreciation for the opportunity for the inhabitants of the region and urged the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia to partner up with the Hardap Regional Councillor to come with projects that are tailor made for the situations of the region.
Accessibility
Speaking on behalf of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) was Karl Aribeb, chief operations officer, who gave an overview of the Build Back Better (BBB) Program.
“This Urban agriculture e-voucher system is meant to make accessibility of services to urban farmers much easier as this is a digitalised service and additionally improve livelihoods of small-scale farmers under urban and peri urban areas through income”.
Delivering the keynote address, Gershon Dausab, regional councillor for Rehoboth rural constituency and chairperson of the Hardap regional council, denoted that the beneficiaries must use the opportunity given to them to show that the people of Hardap region are capable.
“Resources are limited, and I urge you to ensure that you commit to executing your project to the best of your ability”.
The chairperson further indicated that the regional council is committing to see how it can best assist the selected beneficiaries with execution of their projects. In concluding his keynote address he also requested that the Council and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) engage and see how they can assist the council with regards to project proposals for the unique development for the Hardap region.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the beneficiaries was Penias Topnaar, who was funded under the horticulture.
“I am very happy about this grant as it will greatly assist me in extending my existing infrastructure and be able to grow more food for not only myself and my family but possibly to sell and generate additional income which will improve my stand of living,” Topnaar said.
Delivering the closing remarks, honourable Deensia Swaartbooi, regional councillor for Mariental constituency, thanked all the partners involved in the conceptualisation and execution of the grant programme.
Opportunities
Swaartbooi concluded her statement saying “You have given us and our people hope with this programme to realise their dreams of becoming urban small-scale farmers through the e-voucher system and to you the beneficiaries, we as the regional council was not to see results and want to see you creating employment opportunities and improving livelihoods with these grants that you are receiving here today”.
The rollout programme saw a total support to 56 beneficiaries of 13 are from Windhoek Municipality (Khomas Region), 13 from the Swakopmund Municipality (Erongo Region), 17 from Rundu Town Council (Kavango East Region) and 13 from the Daweb Constituency (Maltahohe) of the Hardap Region respectively.
The ceremony concluded with the rollout of the e-voucher system, registration of beneficiaries and issuance of the voucher card and signing of contracts by identified beneficiaries.
The e-voucher system allows the selected beneficiaries to access good and services from specific selected retailers through the system. There are selected retailers in the various towns that beneficiaries will procure from for the different goods they may require towards the successful implementation of their various projects.
The urban agriculture programme is funded to the tune of N$2 million that translates to N$500 000 per local authority identified under the programme.