The World Food Programme (WFP) faces a funding shortfall of N$111.5 million (US$6.7 million) for its operations in Namibia over the next six months, having secured only N$51.6 million (US$3.1 million) of the N$163.1 million (US$9.8 million) required.
According to the WFP Namibia Country Brief for October 2026, the organisation has secured approximately 31.6% of its funding requirement for the period from October 2026 to March 2027, leaving 68.4% unfunded.
The funding gap comes as Namibia faces renewed risks to food security, with forecasts indicating below-normal rainfall across most regions during the 2026/27 agricultural season.
“According to seasonal forecasts, most regions of Namibia are expected to experience below-normal rainfall during the November 2026 to January 2027 period, posing risks to agricultural production and household food security,” the report stated.
The WFP warned that a developing El Niño event could further reduce rainfall across Southern Africa, potentially affecting agricultural production, regional cereal supplies and household food security.
It said Namibia’s dependence on food imports could expose the country to higher food prices if adverse weather conditions disrupt agricultural production across the region.
The organisation also warned that households still recovering from the 2023/24 drought could face increased vulnerability if rainfall remains below average.
“Looking ahead, forecasts indicate a developing El Niño event that could result in below-average rainfall across Southern Africa during the 2026/27 season. Reduced rainfall may adversely affect agricultural production, constrain regional cereal supplies and heighten food security risks,” the report stated.
“Given Namibia’s dependence on food imports, these pressures could contribute to higher food prices and increased vulnerability among households still recovering from the impacts of the 2023/24 drought.”
The WFP further noted that Namibia’s operating environment had become increasingly complex following its reclassification by the World Bank from an upper-middle-income to a lower-middle-income country.
Despite the funding constraints, the organisation reported that 383,084 households across Namibia’s 14 regions had received rice assistance through a government distribution programme supported by the WFP.
A total of 4,893 metric tonnes of rice donated by the Republic of Korea had been distributed, with the programme in the Kavango East Region reaching 96% completion.
The WFP said the reconciliation of October’s distribution figures was still ongoing.
Meanwhile, more than 51,000 children were benefiting from feeding interventions at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across the country.
In the Kunene Region, the provision of daily fortified porridge at the Otuvero ECD Centre contributed to a 74% increase in enrolment and participation since the intervention was introduced.
The report said the WFP, the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture and the European Union had conducted a joint field mission to Kunene to assess progress under EU-supported programmes covering early childhood development, nutrition, education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene services.
“The mission provided an opportunity for direct engagement with regional and local authorities, communities, caregivers and programme beneficiaries,” the report stated.
The WFP also continued supporting the government’s Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and Clusters of Sustainable Villages initiative, which seek to strengthen local food production, improve nutrition and support sustainable livelihoods.
In addition, the organisation and the Office of the Prime Minister finalised a targeting methodology and standard operating procedure aimed at improving the identification of vulnerable households and ensuring that humanitarian assistance is distributed transparently and equitably.
The WFP’s funding partners in Namibia include the European Union, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the Namibian government, private-sector contributors and WFP multilateral funding sources.
The funding shortfall highlights the financial pressure facing the organisation as it supports food assistance, nutrition programmes and government efforts to strengthen Namibia’s response to future food security shocks.
