The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued an urgent plea for US$6 million to bridge the net funding gap for its critical food assistance programs in Namibia between July and December 2024. This comes as the organization revealed details of its recent activities in the country.
“These funds are vital to ensure we can continue providing life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities in Namibia,” said a WFP spokesperson. “Without this support, there is a real risk of disruptions to our programs, which could have devastating consequences.”
WFP Assisting Over 12,000 Namibians
In June 2024 alone, WFP provided food assistance to a total of 12,442 Namibians. This critical support reached both children and adults through various initiatives.
“A major focus of our work is the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme,” explained the spokesperson. “In June, this program provided meals to 10,985 school children across Namibia.”
These meals not only ensure the children receive essential nutrition but according to WFP, can also lead to improved academic performance and attendance.
Building Capacity and Environmental Sustainability
The WFP is also actively engaged in building the capacity of Namibian farmers. “We recently collaborated with the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Initiative to conduct training sessions focused on sustainable agricultural practices,” said the spokesperson. “These sessions covered a wide range of topics including pest control, farm management, and soil health.”
Environmental sustainability is another key focus area for WFP. “An independent evaluation of our Environmental Policy found that WFP is playing a significant role in promoting sustainable practices in Namibia,” the spokesperson highlighted. “This is particularly evident in our Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and our food systems projects.”
The WFP is hopeful that the recent oversight mission conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education will provide valuable insights to further enhance the effectiveness of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme. “By analyzing factors like academic performance and attendance records, we hope to demonstrate the clear link between school feeding and improved learning outcomes,” concluded the spokesperson. “These findings will then be used to develop actionable recommendations for stakeholders to ensure the program’s continued success.”