Tsumkwe Project Breaking Grounds on Integrated Food Systems through Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Model

On Thursday, 1st September 2022, WFP in partnership with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, the Embassy of Brazil, the African Group of Ambassadors, and the Otjozondupa Regional and local government conducted a monitoring visit for the Tsumkwe Community Based Integrated Food Systems Project in Otjozondupa Region.

The visit was graced by Honorable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. The USD 30,000 (NAD 519,000) project was established in August 2021 with funding from the African Group of Ambassadors in partnership with Standard Bank Namibia USD 9600 (NAD 146,000) and the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil USD 20,000 (NAD 346,000).

This project is aimed to improve socio-economic outcomes and increase local food production in addition to curbing the prevalence of malnutrition and stunting in Tsumkwe. The San community required support for resilience building and livelihood restoration of which the Integrated Food Systems Project has been successfully implementing through a two hectares portion of land producing spinach, beetroot, cabbage, green pepper, and onion.  

To complement the effort of WFP as the lead implementing partner and support the United Nation’s shared vision to ‘deliver as one’, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Namibia contributed USD 2,000 (NAD 34,290) to the project through the construction of a poultry house (chicken coup) which initially housed 98-layer chickens. Ten (10) youth were trained in poultry production by FAO. 

To date, WFP’s additional investment has expanded the chicken coup to a capacity of over 500-layer chicken thereby enhancing diversified nutrient intake amongst the communities.  With a production rate of 500 eggs per day, the demand for eggs has similarly increased amongst the population of Tsumkwe.

To date the revenue of sales from the garden is NAD 13,740 per month with the majority of the profit coming from the sale of the eggs (NAD 12,000), spinach (NAD 990), cabbage (NAD 450), and green pepper (NAD 300).

The Tsumkwe Clinic acquires fresh produce from the food systems project towards its soup kitchen as support to 45 Tuberculosis (TB) patients and pregnant and lactating women.  To upscale production, 65 hectares of land has been earmarked to upscale activities under phase 2 of the project such as diary and flower production for export and other high value crops and industrial activities for employment creation and commercial enterprise. 

"The project not only guarantees food security but also addresses issues of employment by positioning youth at the forefront of agriculture food production because unemployment in Tsumkwe is one of the highest due to the long distance (290km) from the main town." - Honourable Hausiku Johannes, Tsumkwe Constituency Councillor 

Thanks to the project, five youth have been employed with a monthly salary each of NAD 1,500. Three boys are assigned to gardening and watering the plants while two boys are assigned to the chicken coup. There are also two volunteers who are currently unpaid, however efforts are being made to secure financial resources for their salaries.

All the project successes have created a positive spirit of hard work and collaboration in Tsumkwe in the vision of every house being able to feed itself. After the first harvest, the project coordinator donated the leftover seeds to households and provided instructions on backyard gardening.  To date, five backyard gardens have been set up that now have cabbage, spinach, and carrots.

"Food security is a pillar to human security and human dignity. This project is a milestone to achieving food security. If the project reaches its full potential, it is expected to employ 400 to 500 people." - Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah  

The project is a positive example of multiple stakeholder collaboration for the convergence of WFPs three pillar approach to saving lives and changing lives through food systems, rural transformation and human capital development.

The next monitoring visit on the project and progress status has been scheduled for February 2023.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

For more information, please contact:

Luise Shikongo Luise.shikongo@wfp.org

Rawan Taha  rawan.taha@wfp.org