The World Food Programme (WFP) is making significant strides in its fight against hunger in Namibia, employing a multifaceted approach that tackles not just food scarcity but its root causes.
Unpacking the Gender Dimension:
A critical step forward came from a two-day workshop held in Windhoek (March 11-12). This gathering, central to WFP’s pilot social norms curriculum, brought together 17 government partners and WFP specialists. Their mission? To dissect the complex interplay between societal norms, food security, and nutritional challenges.
The workshop proved to be a springboard for collective understanding. Participants pinpointed specific gender norms that hinder access to food, crucial resources, and decision-making power, particularly for women and girls. This newfound awareness paves the way for the development of actionable strategies to integrate gender equality into joint efforts. By tackling these inequalities, WFP aims to achieve more inclusive and impactful program outcomes in the fight against hunger.
Strengthening National Strategies:
WFP’s commitment extends beyond grassroots initiatives. The organisation actively collaborates with national institutions. This was evident in a subsequent national workshop held in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) on March 25-28. This pivotal event focused on refining the National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP) and the Revised Drought Management Policy.
The NAIP itself is a strategic roadmap divided into four key pillars: boosting agricultural production and agribusiness, enhancing food and nutrition security alongside human capacity development, promoting sustainable resource management, and fostering a supportive environment with responsive institutions. WFP, working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), played a key role in shaping the second pillar of the NAIP and contributed valuable insights to refine the Drought Management Policy.
Among the workshop’s key achievements was a consensus to integrate circular economy principles, a move that has the potential to improve access to finance, agricultural inputs, and water resources – all vital ingredients for building agricultural resilience and long-term sustainability.
Empowering Young Innovators:
Recognising the transformative potential of youth, WFP joined forces with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on a field mission conducted between March 25-29, 2024. Their target? Three rural projects were spearheaded by young Namibian entrepreneurs who had previously impressed at the SADC Rural Innovation and Transformation Expo.
Through in-depth assessments, the team explored ways to support these promising initiatives and pave the way for their expansion. By nurturing young talent and fostering innovative agricultural solutions, WFP is helping to build a more secure and food-abundant future for Namibia.
