Jagger’s billion-dollar plan

Jemimah NdebeleWindhoekIn an effort to improve the lives of vulnerable children, the ministry of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare has unveiled an ambitious plan to invest almost N$1.4 billion into programmes and services that will address the unique challenges faced by these children. During her recent parliamentary budget motivation, deputy minister of gender equality Bernadette Jagger revealed that there are currently 357 036 orphans and vulnerable children on the grant system.“A total amount of N$1.386 billion is allocated to this main division, which includes programmes and activities aimed at the provision of childcare and protection services, food rations for the Namibia Children’s Home and After School Centre as well as personnel expenditure,” she said. Jagger, who was seeking approval for the ministry’s N$6.48 billion budget, said N$18 million has been allocated to various developmental programmes.The child care and protection services division and the social protection services programme - with the mandate of ensuring administration and timely payment of social grants and funeral benefits - were allotted the largest pieces of the cake.“A total N$3.6 billion is allocated to the social protection services programme for the 2023/2024 financial year,” she said.Disability grantsAdditionally, N$971 million has been budgeted for social grants for persons with disabilities. This includes the increase of the grant for children with disabilities under the age of 16 from N$250 to N$1 300.“A total amount of N$33.7 million is allocated to the disability affairs division - inclusive of financial support to students with disabilities at tertiary institutions - provision of basic commodities to persons with severe disabilities, personnel expenditure and subsidy to the National Disability Council of Namibia,” Jagger said. Meanwhile, the ministry plans to fork out N$49 million to support and empower micro-businesses through its income-generating activity programmes. It will also support early childhood development programmes and provide monthly subsidies to edu-carers and personnel. A whopping N$200 million will go to the administration and decentralised functions and activities of the ministry, while N$10 million will cover expenditure in the offices of the minister and the three deputy ministers.

Jagger’s billion-dollar plan

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-03

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Jagger’s billion-dollar plan

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-03

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