Windhoek

As Namibia prepares to bid farewell to United Nation’s Resident Coordinator Musinga Bandora, the country can take solace in that his successor has extensive knowledge on humanitarian issues.

His successor specialises in humanitarian crises on drought and food shortages.

Ghanaian national Anita Kiki Gbeho has in recent years led the United Nations’ humanitarian operations in a part of Africa ruined by war, drought and famine that has led to the deaths of thousands in the Horn of Africa.

Gbeho assumes duty early next month.

Gbeho’s arrival in Namibia comes at a time when the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in its State of Food Insecurity in the World Report 2015 revealed that more than 42 percent of Namibia’s population is undernourished.

Bandora announced at a briefing that his tenure as resident coordinator ends on June 30, 2015, after three-and-a-half years in Namibia.

He outlined the adoption of UNPAF (United Nations Development Partnership Framework) 2014-2018, a comprehensive blueprint providing the context and content of UN work in the country as one of the key milestones achieved during his tenure.

“I firmly believe that I have made a significant contribution to the strong foundation which will enable the UN in Namibia to be the leading partner in Namibia’s pursuit of its national development vision and goals consistent with internationally agreed standards and norms,” he said yesterday.

Namibia is one of eight African countries that have been classified at the highest level of   undernourishment (35 percent and over).

Namibia does not sit pretty in the report with 42.3 percent of its 2.2 million inhabitants regarded as poorly nourished.

Gbeho, who in the past worked in Namibia under the World Food Program (WFP) during peacekeeping operations, serves at the United Nations as Section Chief of Africa in the Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Gbeho also served as the Head of Office for Somalia for OCHA operations covering the severe drought in the Horn of Africa and the famine in Somalia.

Gbeho is a BA Degree holder in Social Sciences from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Her arrival also comes at a time when the country is grappling with a severe drought that continues to plague thousands of Namibians living in rural areas.

Two reports compiled by the National Planning Commission and released earlier this year - Namibia Index of Multiple Deprivation and Namibia Poverty Mapping - reveals that despite the 11 percentage points decline in the poverty head count, over 500 000 Namibians live on less than N$12 a day.

The two reports, both compiled by the National Planning Commission, were handed over to members of parliament on Monday.

Kavango East and West, Zambezi, Oshikoto, Kunene, Otjozondjupa and Omusati are currently ranked as the seven most impoverished regions in the country.

A United Nations Resident Coordinator is the highest United Nations official and the chief of UN diplomatic mission in a country.