UN, GRN join forces to address drought crisis
In coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the United Nations has mobilized U$3 million through the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) to support the country’s response to the ongoing drought crisis, which is being exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.This initiative aims to deliver immediate assistance to vulnerable communities complementing other interventions to build long-term resilience. This funding decision by CERF follows the visit of the Office of the ASG/Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño / La Niña Response, Reena Ghelani and the OCHA Regional Office in July 2024.
The UN
Resident coordinators, Hopolang Phororo and Ghelani advocated for UN support at regional and global levels, as well as from development partners.
Namibia is currently facing one of its most severe droughts, influenced by the El Niño climate pattern, which has significantly impacted agriculture and food security across the country. This crisis threatens the livelihoods of communities, particularly in the Omaheke, Kavango East, and Kavango West regions, which are classified as Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) 4, indicating an emergency in terms of food insecurity.
Complementary
The UN, with the Government of Namibia, has mobilised U$3 million in response to this need, leveraging the CERF. This funding, coordinated through the UN and OPM partnership aims to complement the government’s Drought Response Plan to scale up lifesaving interventions to reach extremely vulnerable households in the most severely drought-affected locations in Kavango West, Kavango East, and Omaheke regions.
The UN intervention will be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for six months. The total number of people directly targeted is approximately 163 000 across the following sectors: food assistance; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and protection from gender-based violence.
The UN will oversee the implementation in collaboration with OPM, national, and local partners to ensure the effective distribution of food and services to those in most need.
These efforts not only address the immediate crisis but also lay the foundation for long-term resilience, focusing on strengthening local supply chains, enhancing nutritional knowledge, and building community feedback mechanisms.
The integrated approach is designed to ensure accountability and transparency, with monitoring mechanisms established to protect the rights of affected communities and promote sustainable livelihoods.