Japan has made funding of N$23.5 million available through its supplementary budget, for implementation of two projects that aim to address critical issues affecting vulnerable populations in Namibia.
Japanese Ambassador to Namibia Hisao Nishimaki said of the total, N$14.2 million will be directed to implementing emergency response to enhance resilience and mitigate climate-induced impacts on livelihoods, food and nutrition security of the most vulnerable households in Kavango East, Kavango West and Ohangwena regions.
The project, to run for 12 months, will be jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.
The remaining N$9.3 million will focus on increasing access to quality nutrition and protection services for vulnerable populations including women and children in Omaheke, Khomas and Kunene regions.
The World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Social Services will be the implementers.
“Japan has since 2013 provided funding for social programmes in Namibia amounting to N$320 million, excluding the latest investment support. We value the need to support health and agricultural sectors as necessary, considering more than 70% of the Namibian population depends on agriculture directly and indirectly, and the importance of good healthcare services,” said Nishimaki.
He said the social programmes in Namibia have been successfully implemented by various UN agencies.
“To this end, Japan’s supplementary budget worked with WHO having already funded five projects to the tune of N$37 million for, which have mainly been utilised majorly in addressing health emergencies and building resilient health systems in Namibia. On the other hand, N$40 million was provided to FAO in capacitating smallholder farmers to better cope with climate-induced emergencies and improving rural communities,” he added.
