Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The World Food Programme (WFP) Namibia has announced a funding shortfall of USD 0.5 million (N$9.5 million) for the next six months, representing 19% of its requirements.
The gap could disrupt critical food assistance programmes across the country.
According to the WFP Namibia Country Brief for July 2025, the organisation assisted 96 387 people in July through food vouchers, school feeding initiatives, and soup kitchens.
During that month, 58 764 people received food vouchers, 25 585 children were served meals at soup kitchens, and 12 038 schoolchildren benefited from the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (Tier 2).
“USD 0.5 million net funding requirements for the next six months (from August 2025 until January 2026), representing 19 percent of funding requirements,” WFP said in the brief.
The organisation warned that while progress has been made in reaching vulnerable groups, the funding gap threatens the pace and consistency of delivery.
The brief also highlighted the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Feeding Programme, led by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare with technical support from WFP and UNICEF and funding from the European Union. The programme supplies fortified porridge to about 2 000 ECD centres nationwide to improve child nutrition.
From 29 July to 2 August, WFP, UNICEF, MGECW, the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Arts, Innovation and Culture, and the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia conducted a joint mission in the Erongo region. The visit focused on oversight, stakeholder engagement, nutrition training of trainers, and baseline data collection to support the national rollout of the ECD programme.
At the same time, WFP continues to provide nutrition-sensitive support for drought-affected populations under USAID/BHA funding.
This programme, which exceeded its target by 4%, currently assists 58 764 beneficiaries in Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Ohangwena, and Oshikoto regions. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five form the main focus of the voucher programme.
Beneficiaries are registered through the Namibia Integrated Digital Assistance Service (NIDAS) Beneficiary Management Platform. Each household receives food value vouchers worth N$500, distributed across four feeding cycles.
The vouchers allow families to buy food in line with Namibia’s four food group dietary guidelines: cereals and staples, proteins, fats and oils, and fruits and vegetables.
The WFP stressed that these interventions remain critical for vulnerable populations.
But the organisation cautioned that without closing the funding gap, food security support in Namibia may face disruptions.
WFP said it remains committed to working with government ministries, development partners, and local stakeholders to ensure that vulnerable Namibians continue to receive assistance.
