Cash-Based Interventions provide a ray of hope for refugees in Namibia amid severe drought and funding shortages

 “I am so happy to receive cash assistance. I prefer cash because it allows me to fund my other projects like school fees. I also plan to use some of the money to start a business,” said Nfuny from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who fled his country due to war in 2019.

As prolonged drought in Namibia continues, the livelihoods of refugees and asylum-seekers in the Osire refugee settlement are severely impacted, with subsistence farming, which many depend on, becoming increasingly difficult. Rising temperatures in the country that frequently surpass 40 degrees and irregular rainfall have made it harder for them to grow the crops and sustain their livelihoods. 

Food insecurity in the Osire settlement has worsened protection risks such as gender-based violence and exploitation, particularly towards women and children. According to the Joint Assessment Mission report conducted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and World Food Programme in 2021, half of the population assessed have poor food consumption with majority being female headed households, further increasing their vulnerability. Global financial uncertainty, funding cuts and rising inflation has further exacerbated the situation, making essential resources out of reach for many.

Over the years, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been providing food and other essential needs such as in-kind assistance. Early this year, UNHCR, in collaboration with the government, launched Cash-Based Interventions (CBI), allowing beneficiaries to buy food and other essential needs for their families from the market. Facilitated by the service provider, Mobile Telecommunications Company Namibia, through its mobile money service, this approach is a significant step towards improving financial inclusion for refugees and asylum-seekers in Namibia, benefitting around 6,000 individuals and over 1,000 households in the Osire settlement. 

The CBI initiative further aligns with key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and underpinned by the principles of “Leaving No One Behind,” leveraging efforts to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), reduce inequalities (SDG 10), build stronger communities (SDG 11) and encourages teamwork (SDG 17) by bringing together the government and partners to support refugees at the Osire resettlement. 

“Offering cash assistance instead of in-kind aid will empower refugees and asylum-seekers to make their own choices about what they need most,” said Gloria Ekuyoa, CBI Officer at UNHCR. “This will not only enhance their self-reliance but also stimulate the local economy and strengthen social cohesion. With cash, some would be able to invest or start small business, paving the way for a more sustainable future.”

“In the midst of declining resources due to changing in geopolitical and economic landscapes, sustainable approaches have to be realised to keep service provisions to refugees and asylum-seekers,” said Fillemon Haindongo, Acting Country Director at Society for Family Health, a partner of UNHCR. “Thus, the Cash-Based Incentives (CBI) is one of such modalities that aims not only to provide for their livelihoods but also to build self-reliance among FDPs. The CBI is faster and much more convenient to manage,” he added. 

Although UNHCR works closely with the government of Namibia on various protection initiatives, the country’s settlement policy limits refugees' access to job and financial markets and their chances of self-sufficiency, with many struggling to access national services outside of Osire settlement. 

Namibia has recently seen an increase in new arrivals due to the ongoing conflicts in the DRC. Since February 2025, over 80 new refugees have been received at the Osire refugee settlement, worsening an already critical situation and further straining resources. UNHCR has only 40% of the resources needed for CBI assistance. 

As part of the CBI, UNHCR is also supporting around 885 refugees and asylum-seekers from 266 households in Botswana, enabling them to meet their immediate food and non-food needs.

While the launch of CBI programme is a positive step towards addressing the immediate needs of refugee in both Namibia and Botswana, the cash assistance sustained funding is crucial to ensure long-term self-reliance.