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Japan government grants N$9.5 million to drought affected families

Japan government grants N$9.5 million to drought affected families

Earlier this week, a launching ceremony of the project entitled ‘Health systems strengthening to build resilience of children and their families affected by drought and flooding through multi-sectoral intervention in 7 northern regions of Namibia’ was held at the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

The government of Japan granted, approximately N$9.5 million, for this project of trilateral cooperation among the local government, the government of Japan and UNICEF Namibia.

The project intends to support government’s leadership and efforts in responds to the compelling needs of the most vulnerable population in the 7 northern regions, namely, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Kunene and Zambezi, where have been seriously affected by the negative impact of drought and flood emergencies repeated in past years.

The project aims at building resilience of the targeted population in 7 northern regions, through multi-sectoral intervention and will be administered by UNICEF under the supervision of the two governments.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Bernhard Haufiku, Minister of Health & Social Services, Alpheus !Naruseb, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Dr. Peya Mushelenga, Minister of Urban & Rural Development, Anna Nghipondoka, Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Maureen Hinda, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, H.E. Hideyuki Sakamotao, Ambassador of Japan, and Rachel Odede, UNICEF Country Representative, amongst other dignitaries.

During the ceremony, Haufiku, expressed appreciations to Japan for its contribution to the children and people in Namibia, stating that the presence of all the political leaderships of the key ministries of the project today was the proof of the appreciation by and commitment of the Government of Republic of Namibia.

Haufiku noted that the support was given at the right time when the government was busy with implementation of national development plans of Harambee Prosperity Plan and NDP5 towards realisation of Vision 2030, and when the rains have not yet come as forecasted thus another drought may bring further challenges to the country.

He further commended UNICEF’s constructive engagement in support of the Namibian Government’s efforts.

Odede, on her part said that the funding would complement the on-going remarkable work being carried out by the Namibian government to support children and families who have been made vulnerable because of drought and flood emergencies repeated in past years.

Sakamoto stated that the government of Japan has decided to support the government’s leadership and efforts in partnership with UNICEF, in order to close a big disconnect between economic development and social development in Namibia.

He continued saying that this trilateral cooperation is a proven approach by the previous two projects implemented from 2012 to 2015, with the total funding of 2.3 million USD from the government of Japan through UNICEF Namibia.

Sakamoto said that the previous two projects were successfully completed with fruitful results, adding that he hopes that this project would also be successfully implemented through the close partnership established among three parties and thus greatly contribute to transforming the lives of Namibians.


Caption: Minister of Health and Social Services, Bernard Haufiku exchanged a note to confirm the trilateral cooperation.


 

 

About The Author

Donald Matthys

Donald Matthys has been part of the media fraternity since 2015. He has been working at the Namibia Economist for the past three years mainly covering business, tourism and agriculture. Donald occasionally refers to himself as a theatre maker and has staged two theatre plays so far. Follow him on twitter at @zuleitmatthys