The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR), has launched the FAO Country Programme Framework to boost food security in Windhoek.
This collaboration aims to support the country's socio-economic development, strengthen food security and promote the sustainable management of natural resources.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani says this partnership is instrumental in advancing national priorities in food security, resilience and agricultural transformation.
She stated that this collaboration has built a foundation of trust that is delivering real impact for local farmers and communities.
"Through the South-South Cooperation with China, we are benefiting from the expertise of agricultural specialists who are housed here in the ministry, strengthening our capacity in crop production, poultry and aquaculture."
Zaamwani further emphasised that the exercise in knowledge transfer empowers Namibian farmers to become more self-reliant and productive.
"At the regional level, Namibia is actively engaged in the STOSAR 2 programme funded by the European Union and implemented throughout the SADC region, enhancing early warning and surveillance systems for transboundary plant pests and diseases."
FAO's interim representative in Namibia, Dr Patrice Talla, says the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation is working with the government to urgently transform the nation's agri-food systems.
Talla says 57.2% of Namibia's population experiences moderate or severe food insecurity.
"Nearly one in five Namibians is undernourished. More than one in five children under the age of five is stunted, and Namibia's Agricultural Orientation Index stands at just 0.26 - a figure that tells us that public investment in the sector most critical to rural livelihoods and national food security has been declining for decades, from 0.54 in 2001 to where it stands today."
Talla emphasised that the Country Programme Framework is fully aligned with Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), covering Pillars 1, 3 and 4.
"The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2025-2029, as well as Vision 2030 and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II. Together we have agreed on three independent priorities, including strengthening the policies, institutions and data systems that govern our agri-food sector."