Strengthening Food Security and Community-Led Development in Namibia

Strategic Insights -

Representatives from the British High Commission and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently visited the Ikokola Village in Namibia to discuss strengthening food security and promoting community-led development. The visit focused on the Integrated Food Systems Project at Mateus Nashandi Combined School, a project championed by the WFP since 2023. This initiative has delivered outstanding results, providing learners with diversified and nutritious meals, creating employment opportunities for local community members, and supporting pathways to self-sufficiency and rural development.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Integrated Food Systems Project at Mateus Nashandi Combined School has been championed by the WFP since 2023, providing diversified and nutritious meals to learners, creating employment opportunities for local community members, and supporting pathways to self-sufficiency and rural development.
  • The project has been extended to support 28 smallholder farmers through collaboration with the British High Commission, equipping them with knowledge on good agricultural practices, food preservation, and nutrition, and providing them with agricultural implements such as shade nets, irrigation equipment, pesticides, and seeds.
  • The joint project aims to accelerate local production, improve household nutrition, and build resilience within Ikokola and surrounding communities.
  • The WFP Namibia Country Director, Naouar Labidi, emphasized the importance of partnerships in tackling food and nutrition insecurity, stating that working with communities and partners like the British High Commission allows them to support long-term solutions that improve diets, livelihoods, and resilience.
  • The British High Commissioner to Namibia, H.E. Neil Bradley, echoed the commitment to empowering local farmers, stating that the Commission is proud to partner with WFP in supporting communities like Ikokola and helping to unlock their potential to grow more food, improve family nutrition, and strengthen local economies.
  • The site visit concluded with a guided tour of the small-scale horticultural projects and the school project, where community members and leaders, including the Onayena Constituency Councilor Kamati Nelumbu, witnessed and applauded the progress made in improving food systems and livelihoods in the area.

Statistics:

  • Since 2023, the Integrated Food Systems Project at Mateus Nashandi Combined School has supported the development of 28 smallholder farmers.
  • These smallholder farmers have received agricultural implements such as shade nets, irrigation equipment, pesticides, and seeds.
  • The project aims to accelerate local production by:

+ Providing diversified and nutritious meals to learners.

+ Creating employment opportunities for local community members.

+ Supporting pathways to self-sufficiency and rural development.

Sources:

  • "Representatives from the British High Commission and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently visited the Ikokola Village in Namibia to discuss strengthening food security and promoting community-led development." - Unknown (Posted by Intern Sep 8, 2025)
  • WFP Namibia Country Director Naouar Labidi - "Working hand in hand with communities and partners like the British High Commission allows us to support long-term solutions that improve diets, livelihoods, and resilience."
  • British High Commissioner to Namibia, H.E. Neil Bradley - "The British High Commission is proud to partner with WFP in supporting communities like Ikokola."