GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND WFP BOOST FOOD SECURITY IN NAMIBIA

WINDHOEK – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Government of Japan have launched a food security project to help thousands of people in the rural community of Tsintsabis, Oshikoto Region, Namibia.

The project which is funded by the Government of Japan (USD 500,000) is being used to boost much-needed food access for tens of thousands of people in Namibia.

Through this funding, over 21,000 people in Omaheke, Kunene and Oshikoto regions, including nearly 3,700 malnourished children under the age of five are receiving a value voucher equivalent to US$ 47 per month in local currency.

WFP, in partnership with a private telecommunications company piloted a locally developed digital solution to enhance efficiencies and effectiveness when registering beneficiaries and distributing food assistance digitally. It is part of WFP's digital transformation support to the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) to address gaps and limitations in existing systems for social safety nets, including integration.

“WFP appreciates the contribution from the people of Japan through the Japanese government which has been delivered in the form of food value vouchers, acting as a safety net during the current global food price crises which has diminished people’s purchasing power among vulnerable communities,” says George Fedha, WFP’s Country Director in Namibia. “With this intervention, people have a fighting chance to boost their nutritional dietary intake thus curbing against potential relapse to food insecurity.”

Namibia is at a tipping point. Food insecurity is worsening with most vulnerable people facing challenges to access food following the global food price crisis.

“I would like to express my gratitude to WFP in Namibia for making the effective use of the funds provided by the Japanese Government by distributing highly nutritious food to those who really need it,” says H.E. Hisao Nishimaki, Japanese Ambassador to Namibia. “I hope that the contributions will help many people to acquire necessary food, much more comfortably.”

The Government of Japan is a long-standing partner of WFP’s in Namibia. The latest contribution brings Japan’s total contributions to Namibia to USD 1.7 million since 2017.

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.

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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Luise Shikongo, WFP/Windhoek, +264 81 786 9475