– Funds Expected to Stimulate Rural Economy By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK In an effort to alleviate the irksome poverty situation in rural Namibia, the European Commission on Friday availed N$26.66 million that will be used to fund three projects aimed at improving rural livelihoods. The effort is part of the Rural Poverty Reduction Programme (RPRP) in the office of the National Planning Commission. One such project to benefit from the RPRP is the Emerging Commercial Farmers’ Support Programme, implemented by the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) in partnership with the Namibia National Farmers’ Union (NNFU). The programme received a grant of N$9 469 588. President of the NAU, Raimar von Hase explained that the project targets emerging farmers under the country’s resettlement programme. Through this initiative, emerging farmers will be trained and will have access to advisory services where the need arises. The project will operate in Karas, Hardap, Omaheke, Khomas, Erongo, Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto and the Kunene regions. Over the past three years, NAU has been researching on how it could improve the situation of farmers, especially resettled ones. “This is the realisation of a joint effort. We have a responsibility towards emerging farmers and we are grateful that we now receive such support,” he said. President of the NNFU Manfred Rukoro shared the same view as Van Hase. He said that the land reform programme in Namibia will be meaningless and a contributor to poverty if the process is not fully supported. NAU recently appointed a project coordinator and currently the union is busy with a draft of the implementation process. The Artisan Training for Self-Employment Support Programme in Northern Namibia received N$9 045 189. The project, to be implemented by the Kayec Trust, aims to create a pool of skilled artisans in rural northern Namibia. The project will target rural youth in the Kavango, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, and Oshikoto regions. Director of the Kayec Trust, Reverend Mike Yates, explained that the project will focus on the rural youth, especially from out of school, as well as orphan-headed households, among others. The third beneficiary, the Community Empowerment and Enrichment Project received a grant of N$8 146 622. The project focuses on communal conservancies and community forests of the Caprivi and Kavango regions. To be implemented by the Namibia Nature Foundation, the project will improve the economic, social, and environmental conditions of rural communities by supporting grass-root initiatives, said the project representative Mwazi Mwazi. European Commission Ambassador to Namibia, Elizabeth Pape, said adequate monitoring of projects should be done. Acting Director General of the National Planning Commission Dr Albert Kawana expressed gratitude towards the EC and their role in fighting poverty in Namibia. The RPRP has a budget of Euros 53 million (equivalent to N$500 million) to provide grant finance to development projects focusing on productive rural economic enterprises and supportive services. The call for proposals for the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) grant support was issued by the National Planning Commission in March 2006. The RPRP received 115 applications and 18 were recommended for funding. The projects, according to Kawana, are expected to stimulate rural economic activities. Since independence, poverty reduction and income inequalities have been the main thrust of government and yet more still remains to be done. Kawana urged the beneficiaries to ensure that the projects gain maximum benefits in order to foster Namibia’s relationship with the EC and the donor community at large. The government and EC are further busy with the 10th EDF programme that will hopefully lead to another grants programme in support of rural development.