Niël Terblanché
The drought in Namibia has led to widespread food insecurity, environmental degradation, health threats, and rising unemployment, affecting more than half of the country’s people.
According to the UN Resident Coordinator in Namibia, Hopolang Phororo, recognising the acute vulnerability of certain groups, particularly nursing mothers, women, and children, the United Nations in Namibia has mobilised resources through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to address the crisis.
“Even as women and girls disproportionately feel the impact of droughts, we have an opportunity to leverage their leadership and boost drought resilience in communities,” she said.
In the Mupuni village in the Kavango West region, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been instrumental in distributing food vouchers and establishing a soup kitchen for children aged six months to nine years, reaching nearly 65 000 individuals facing acute malnutrition in the regions of Omaheke, Kavango East, and Kavango West.
Complementing these efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provides lifesaving support to breastfeeding mothers and children impacted by the drought emergency, while the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) offers protection initiatives, including family planning and counselling services, delivered through mobile clinics in these areas.
According to Phororo, the UN’s commitment extends beyond immediate relief, aiming to transition towards long-term resilience, climate action, and sustainable development.
The national drought response plan, supported by the United Nations, prioritises building the resilience of drought-affected communities, enhancing food security, and protecting livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable members of the population, including women.
Through targeted interventions, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) support initiatives that help diversify livelihoods.
According to the report, women farmers are provided with irrigation equipment for more efficient and sustainable water use, reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
Vulnerable households receive seeds, tools, poultry and pig feed, fencing, shade netting materials, and crucially, access to markets.
“These initiatives aim to boost agricultural productivity and build community resilience to effectively weather drought conditions,” she said.
Phororo added that the drought crisis is compounded by teenage pregnancy which also undermines development in Namibia.
According to her, teenage mothers often interrupt their education to care for their infants, while older relatives take on added domestic and childcare responsibilities to support their younger counterparts, perpetuating a cycle of lost opportunities across generations.
“The well-being of children born to teenage mothers also suffers, as early weaning to allow mothers time to earn a living increases risks of malnourishment and related health issues,” she said.
In communities heavily impacted by drought, disruptions to healthcare infrastructure and resulting economic instability increase the challenges of providing adequate medical care and counselling, including reproductive health services to counter the spread of HIV and provide maternal and child health support.
“Ultimately, teen mothers and their children stand to lose more, exposed to added risks of poor education, malnutrition, stunting, and serious diseases,” the report said.
Phororo said that the UN in Namibia places building local resilience at the heart of its work, engaging communities through an integrated, gender-sensitive approach.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025-2029 serves as a guiding light, centred on poverty eradication and resilience-building while empowering women and youth.
