The Namibian government has launched a nationwide drought relief programme estimated at N$1.6 billion (US$90 million) to provide critical assistance to communities grappling with severe drought effects.
Despite the significant allocation of funds, a funding gap of N$482 million (US$27 million) remains. Addressing the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, highlighted the financial shortfall.
“The cost of these interventions is estimated at over US$90 million (N$1.6 billion). A funding gap of US$27 million (N$482 million) exists, for which the government appeals for assistance,” she said.
The drought has had a devastating impact on Namibia’s agriculture and livestock sectors, leading to widespread food insecurity and water shortages.
The programme includes food aid for vulnerable households, livestock support for farmers, and water provisions for drought-stricken communities.
“The food assistance under the drought relief programme covers 373,276 households, translating into about 1.26 million people, representing 41% of the population,” the Prime Minister added.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the drought led to the declaration of a State of Emergency.
“The Government of the Republic of Namibia declared a State of National Disaster (Drought) on 22 May 2024. This follows a crop assessment which confirmed that the national aggregated cereal production of white maize, sorghum, pearl millet and wheat for 2024 has decreased by 53%,” she noted, emphasising the severity of the drought.
She said in addition to food shortages, water levels have significantly declined as a decrease of 69.7% in dam water levels was observed in March 2024, which has resulted in a significant deterioration of household food security in various regions of the country.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila expressed gratitude for the support received so far but stressed the need for further assistance.
“Positive responses to our appeal for assistance have been received from the development partners, for which we are grateful. Assistance comes in the form of cash donations and in-kind donations of food and equipment made directly to the government and through the UN agencies,” she said.
The Prime Minister also mentioned Namibia’s efforts to improve disaster management through technology.
“In Namibia, we have started to digitise all beneficiaries’ data and to monetise the relief assistance through the introduction of voucher cards to beneficiaries which are redeemed at contracted local business enterprises, largely small business enterprises,” she explained.
With the drought affecting the broader Southern African region, Namibia continues to implement reforms aimed at strengthening disaster risk management and early warning systems.
The country is developing a National Resilience Building Strategy to enhance its ability to mitigate and respond to future disasters.
“The government, in close collaboration with development partners and all relevant stakeholders, is developing a National Resilience Building Strategy, which will be aligned to the National Risk Profiles. This exercise shall culminate in the development of resilience strategies to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of our vulnerable communities against the detrimental effects of disasters,” she said.
This comes after, and in harmony with the Nairobi Declaration, the government developed a National Risk Profile which profiled about 14 hazards to which the country is exposed.
This will enhance the planning and prioritisation of resources to mitigate the impacts of these hazards.
The Namibian Cabinet recently endorsed the enrolment of an additional 64,525 households to benefit from the national drought relief programme, which initially targeted 341,855 households.
This decision was announced following the 18th Decision-Making Meeting and in addition to the expanded drought relief programme, the Cabinet allocated N$16.8 million from the National Emergency Disaster Fund to support regional quarterly funding for ongoing drought interventions.
