Martin Endjala
To reinforce Namibia’s disaster risk management and food and nutrition security the Office of the Prime Minister and the World Food Programme (WFP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a durable strategy aimed at building increased resilience.
In this regard, the Executive Director in the Office of the Prime Minister, I-Ben Nashandi, and Dr George Fedha from the WFP signed the agreement earlier this week.
The agreement is aimed at unyielding collaboration aimed at enhancing early warning systems, digitalizing food assistance through an electronic voucher system, and implementing a durable strategy for building resilience against food insecurity in Namibia.
During the signing ceremony, Nashandi lauded the WFP for its ongoing partnership with the Namibian government.
He said that the agreement will provide the necessary capacity for implementing robust processes, systems, and institutions for effective service delivery.
This initiative comes at a time when Namibia is still mourning the loss of President Hage Geingob, whose legacy of strengthening public service frameworks serves as a cornerstone for the new agreement.
The collaboration outlined in the MoU includes the digitalization of the voucher system. The process is a strategic addition that will expedite relief responses through collaboration with local business entities.
Nashandi said that initial steps have already been taken at Okatana, with further plans to expand the program to Ondangwa Urban and Okatyali, and engagements in Hardap to roll out the system in Rehoboth and Dawed Constituencies.
The agreement covers the enhancement of Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAA) and early warning systems to improve response accuracy and coordination.
The recent launch of an information strategy by Prime Minister Saara Kuukongelwa-Amadhila aligns with these efforts, aiming to facilitate information sharing and improve emergency response mechanisms.
The agreement also supports the implementation of the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy launched in December 2021, stressing the need for robust monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the effectiveness of the Implementation Action Plan.
Nashandi stated that the Office of the Prime Minister’s commitment to the implementation of the new agreement reflects the government’s dedication to improving disaster risk management and food and nutrition security in Namibia.
He added that through this enhanced collaboration with the WFP, the Office of the Prime Minister aims to establish a resilient framework that not only addresses immediate vulnerabilities but also lays the foundation for sustainable development and security in sectors of the population whose needs are at a critical stage.
Nashandi also paid tribute to the late President Hage Geingob who was buried at the Heroes Acre over the weekend, describing him as a builder of the Namibian processes, systems and institutions.
“The late Dr Hage Geingob, as you have observed through obituaries and touching tributes, was a builder of the Namibian Public Service, and he entrenched that for the proper function of the Namibian government which increases the need for us to build strong processes, systems and institutions.
This legacy which he bequeathed us is a fundamental building block for effective service delivery,” Nashandi said.
