Namibia country strategic plan (2025–2029)

CSP approved at EB November 2024 session

The Government of Namibia has demonstrated a strong commitment to achieving zero hunger by 2030, but progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 remains constrained. Despite its upper-middle-income status, the country faces significant challenges, such as high levels of inequality, unemployment, poverty and food and nutrition insecurity, affecting in particular the most at-risk people. As one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia’s food system is highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Subsistence farming, a heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and post-harvest losses exacerbate food insecurity. Limited access to markets, capital, climate-resilient crops and modern farming technologies and skills also contribute to a significant dependence on food imports and vulnerability to supply chain volatility, hampering the ability of the people most at-risk, particularly Indigenous Peoples, to afford or otherwise obtain access to nutrient-rich diets. 

In this setting, despite the Government's commitment and allocation of increased resources to social sectors, challenges persist in targeting the most at-risk people, impeding efforts to alleviate poverty and reduce inequality. Programmes such as those dedicated to national drought relief and school feeding, historically implemented directly by WFP, have successfully shifted to government ownership. WFP remains a strategic technical partner in ensuring the inclusivity and effectiveness of these programmes and stands ready to support government-led crisis response and provide expert guidance in advancing Namibia’s progress towards food security.

This country strategic plan for 2025–2029 will therefore prioritize the provision of technical assistance to the Government and other actors. In direct alignment with government objectives and the Sixth National Development Plan, the country strategic plan is based on four interconnected and mutually reinforcing outcomes that are centred on emergency response, accelerated human capital development, the transformation towards sustainable climate-resilient food systems, and service provision: 

➢ Outcome 1: Crisis-affected populations in Namibia are able to meet their food and nutrition needs in times of crisis. 

➢ Outcome 2: By 2030, national social protection systems in Namibia are strengthened to more effectively benefit the most at-risk people and promote human capital development. 

➢ Outcome 3: By 2030, national food systems in Namibia are strengthened to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, ensuring that the most at-risk communities have access to affordable healthy diets. 

➢ Outcome 4: By 2030, the Government and other actors in Namibia, especially those focusing on food systems, have leveraged WFP services and expertise in supply chains, enabling them to effectively support the people and communities most at risk. 

This plan is also aligned with WFP’s corporate strategic outcomes and the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework for 2025–2029 and incorporates recommendations from Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan for 2020–2030 of the Southern African Development Community. 

To achieve these planned outcomes, WFP will collaborate extensively with the Government as its primary partner, along with the private sector, academia, donors and civil society. Emphasizing joint programming and advocacy for funding, WFP will work closely with other United Nations entities, particularly the other Rome-based agencies. The partnerships and resourcing strategy underlying the country strategic plan is designed to diversify resources, drawing from traditional and non-traditional donors, local and international financial institutions, innovative financing mechanisms, the private sector and climate financing. 

Cross-cutting issues related to gender equality, the empowerment of young people and women, nutrition integration, protection and accountability to affected people, particularly Indigenous Peoples, will be integrated throughout the design, planning and implementation of interventions. Key enablers of results under all outcomes include digital innovation, strategic partnerships, robust evidence collection and South–South and triangular cooperation.