SWAKOPMUND – The government, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), officially launched a nationwide food programme targeting early childhood development (ECD) centres.
The first consignment of 2 500 bags of maize meal arrived last week in Swakopmund, where it will be distributed to centres all over the region.
The initiative, which will be rolled out to all 14 regions, forms part of a broader effort to strengthen early learning through nutrition and will be integrated into the national school feeding programme.
Speaking at the event, education minister Sanet Steenkamp said the N$29 million intervention is a government initiative in collaboration with its development partners to make sure that children receive the much-needed nutrition to develop.
“We are doing this as a government with the EU and the WFP. The N$29 million is the initial cost from the EU, and it took years of negotiation and planning to get to this point,” she said.
Steenkamp said that the bags delivered to Erongo marked the official start of the initiative, which is aimed at reaching more than 3 800 ECD centres countrywide.
“This is historic. It is the first time ECD centres across the country will receive instant porridge that is not only easy to prepare – because it requires no cooking – but is also fortified with essential nutrients to support physical and cognitive growth in children,” Steenkamp said.
She added that a hungry child cannot be expected to learn or perform, no matter how much emphasis is placed on education and literacy.
“We are not replacing the role of the parent. This support is meant to meet families halfway, so children have a fair and equal start,” she said.
Steenkamp also noted that the government currently spends over N$155 million annually on the national school feeding programme.
This new component, she said, will be absorbed into the ministry’s budget going forward.
“We are starting with Erongo, and we expect the region to lead by example in how the food is stored, handled, and distributed at ECD centres. This is not just about feeding; it’s about impact and preserving the dignity of our children,” she said, urging centres and parents to ensure that each child has their own bowl and spoon.
Adding her voice was Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Minister Emma Kantema, who also applauded the milestone, saying it is a key step in integrating early learning into the national education system.
“The first 1 000 days of a child’s life – from conception to around age eight – are crucial. Nutrition during this stage plays a critical role in brain development, bone and muscle formation, and preventing malnutrition and stunting,” Kantema said.
She added that the fortified instant porridge is rich in vital nutrients needed for a child’s early development and well-being, and that the collaboration between ministries demonstrates what policy in action looks like.
“A well-nourished child is a happy and healthy child. This support doesn’t take over the role of the parents but strengthens it. We are walking this journey together to give our children the best foundation possible,” she added.