Cash for Onamatanga community
Cash for Onamatanga community

Cash for Onamatanga community

In partnership between the government of Namibia and the UN World Food Programme, funding from the European Union (EU) will be used for food assistance in the Omusati Region.
Herma Prinsloo
TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA

ONAMATANGA

The ministry of gender equality and poverty eradication, in partnership with UN World Food Programme (WFP), launched a food assistance programme at Onamatanga village in the Omusati Region.

WFP received funding of one million euros from the European Union (EU) to support communities adversely affected by Covid-19 and the residual effects of recurrent droughts. Two regions were identified to benefit from this contribution, namely Khomas and Omusati.

A total of 6 900 households (about 27 600 people) are targeted in both regions.

Working under the overall disaster response framework of the government of Namibia under the coordination of the office of the prime minister, WFP will use a cash-based transfer (CBT) approach as the transfer modality of choice to support the target groups. Each identified household received N$400.

“This launch today signifies and proves that there are several innovative and efficient ways of delivery food assistance to people that need it most. The use of cash-based transfers through numerous mechanisms including digital platforms is gaining prominence the world over as a model of choice for reaching people that need support timely,” said George Fedha, country representative of the UN World Food Programme.

Buying food

“WFP delivers cash-based transfers to empower vulnerable people with choices to meet their essential needs in local markets.

“In places where markets and financial sectors are working, there is evidence that cash is an effective path to food security.

“WFP cash programming helps people buy the various goods and services their families need and enhances the markets where they purchase their food,” he said.

Kaalote Sheengala, headman of Onamatanga village, said the cash transfers would make a huge impact for their community.

“We will use this money to buy food and feed for our stock. As you can see, our area is very dry and we often do not have access to water. This will make a huge difference in our community,” he said.

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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