N$188 000 relief programme launched for Kavango West learners
Phillipus JosefRundu
The Commonwealth heads of mission in Namibia, in partnership with UNFPA and the World Food Programme (WFP), have launched a six-month initiative in Mpungu constituency, Kavango West, aimed at easing the impact of the country’s prolonged drought on learners and communities. The initiative, titled ‘Building Brighter Tomorrows’, was officially launched last week.
According to a statement, the project is valued at N$188 000, with N$100 000 provided by the Commonwealth and the remaining N$88 000 jointly contributed by UNFPA and WFP. It will run from August to January 2026 and is expected to benefit 400 learners at Gava Combined School, as well as 100 parents, teachers and community members.
The programme focuses on four main areas: improving nutrition through enhanced school meals and the revival of the school’s vegetable garden under the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
The initiative is also aimed at promoting dignity and hygiene by distributing dignity kits to learners, including support for menstrual health. It will focus on expanding access to health and protection services through mobile outreach covering child health care, reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention; and finally, strengthen community resilience by supporting local food systems and livelihoods.
Resilient Namibia
Gava Combined School, which is grappling with too few teachers and overcrowded classrooms, has long struggled to ensure that children are both well-nourished and able to focus in class.
In drought-hit Kavango West, the project aims to ease some of the daily hardships facing learners and their families.
“The Commonwealth Heads of Missions in Namibia are proud to support the UN’s ‘Building Brighter Tomorrows’ initiative, bringing vital nutrition, health and protection to Mpungu’s drought-affected communities,” said Ghana’s High Commissioner to Namibia and dean of the Commonwealth Heads of Mission, Yakubu Alhassan.
“Together, we’re strengthening food security, building partnerships and ensuring no child is left behind in the fight for a healthier, more resilient Namibia,” Alhassan added.
Dignity and opportunity
UN Namibia resident coordinator Hopolang Phororo said the initiative is about building on existing opportunities while addressing long-standing challenges, ensuring that “no child or community is left behind.”
UNFPA Namibia representative Erika Goldson further highlighted the importance of dignity and opportunity, stressing that integrating reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention and nutrition was critical in breaking cycles of stigma and poor health.
WFP country director Naouar Labidi underscored that children can only thrive in the classroom when their basic needs are met. “When children are nourished, healthy and protected, they can focus on learning. Through this partnership we are investing in the future of Kavango West.”
Furthermore, the statement noted that this new project builds on a wider UN drought relief operation that assisted thousands of households in Kavango West, Kavango East, and Omaheke between October 2024 and March this year.
[email protected]
The Commonwealth heads of mission in Namibia, in partnership with UNFPA and the World Food Programme (WFP), have launched a six-month initiative in Mpungu constituency, Kavango West, aimed at easing the impact of the country’s prolonged drought on learners and communities. The initiative, titled ‘Building Brighter Tomorrows’, was officially launched last week.
According to a statement, the project is valued at N$188 000, with N$100 000 provided by the Commonwealth and the remaining N$88 000 jointly contributed by UNFPA and WFP. It will run from August to January 2026 and is expected to benefit 400 learners at Gava Combined School, as well as 100 parents, teachers and community members.
The programme focuses on four main areas: improving nutrition through enhanced school meals and the revival of the school’s vegetable garden under the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
The initiative is also aimed at promoting dignity and hygiene by distributing dignity kits to learners, including support for menstrual health. It will focus on expanding access to health and protection services through mobile outreach covering child health care, reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention; and finally, strengthen community resilience by supporting local food systems and livelihoods.
Resilient Namibia
Gava Combined School, which is grappling with too few teachers and overcrowded classrooms, has long struggled to ensure that children are both well-nourished and able to focus in class.
In drought-hit Kavango West, the project aims to ease some of the daily hardships facing learners and their families.
“The Commonwealth Heads of Missions in Namibia are proud to support the UN’s ‘Building Brighter Tomorrows’ initiative, bringing vital nutrition, health and protection to Mpungu’s drought-affected communities,” said Ghana’s High Commissioner to Namibia and dean of the Commonwealth Heads of Mission, Yakubu Alhassan.
“Together, we’re strengthening food security, building partnerships and ensuring no child is left behind in the fight for a healthier, more resilient Namibia,” Alhassan added.
Dignity and opportunity
UN Namibia resident coordinator Hopolang Phororo said the initiative is about building on existing opportunities while addressing long-standing challenges, ensuring that “no child or community is left behind.”
UNFPA Namibia representative Erika Goldson further highlighted the importance of dignity and opportunity, stressing that integrating reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention and nutrition was critical in breaking cycles of stigma and poor health.
WFP country director Naouar Labidi underscored that children can only thrive in the classroom when their basic needs are met. “When children are nourished, healthy and protected, they can focus on learning. Through this partnership we are investing in the future of Kavango West.”
Furthermore, the statement noted that this new project builds on a wider UN drought relief operation that assisted thousands of households in Kavango West, Kavango East, and Omaheke between October 2024 and March this year.
[email protected]
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