Director of ceremonies- 

Honourable Aletha Frederick, Governor for !Kharas Region 

Honorable Councilor of Berseba Constituency: Honorable Jeremias Goeieman; 

The Executive Director of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Mr. Theofilius Nghitila; 

Project Committee members of !Han /Awab Conservancy 

Traditional Authorities 

Heads and staff members of the Ministry of Environment Forestry and Tourism 

Staff members of the EIF, 

Distinguished community members of !Han /Awab Conservancy and beneficiaries of this grant 

Members of the media 

Ladies and gentlemen 

I am delighted to join you on this occasion of the official handover of yet again one successful climate change project funded through the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia under the CBNRM EDA’s Grants facility in the !Han /Awab Conservancy. 

The official handover of these Projects indicates the commitment Namibia has in her pursuit to ensuring sustainable natural resource management as well as an integral part of national efforts to fight against climate change impact, ensuring water provision to most drought-stricken areas of our society. 

Persistent drought caused by low rainfall as a result of climate change is recognized as one of the greatest global challenges of our time and we are fully aware that Namibia and especially the Southern regions are some of the vulnerable geographically areas in the country to the effects and impacts of climate change. The status quo caused by climate change has negatively affected the region’s economic development, thus making it one of the poorest in the country. 

Water scarcity is a global phenomenon which in some areas is as a result of reduced precipitation, lack of proper infrastructure to supply water, and/or the absence of good management policies. It is estimated that by 2030, nearly half of the global population is likely to face the problem of water shortages. Arid and semi-arid regions are faced with water scarcity issues due to low or non-availability of rainfall. The situation has been exacerbated by climate change that has introduced a greater variability in rainfall patterns. 

Human access to potable water sources has come increasingly under threat during the past 50 years. The effect of climate change and the demand for water due to global increase in populations, especially in arid areas, are two major causes. The unsustainable exploitation of scarce water resources, overuse, decrease in quality, wastage, poor effluent disposal and pollution compound the issue even more. The livelihood of hundreds of millions of people is, therefore, seriously at risk. 

Director of Ceremony!! 

The project entitled: “the Sustainable Livelihoods, Water Utilization and Management Project” by the !Han/Awab Conservancy in Kharas region is funded by the Environmental Investment Fund at the tune of about N$ 1.2 million. The project aims at enhancing environmentally sound water utilization and management by implementing solar powered water pumping systems as a clean technology option in delivering water security and replacing fossil fuels (diesel) as energy source thereby reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from diesel powered systems. 

I am informed that, the !Han/Awab Conservancy rehabilitated and retrofitted 10 boreholes from diesel to solar powered system, with each water point installed with a 10 000 liter tanks and animal trough to supply water for livestock and human consumption respectively. In total the EDA-CBNRM project has rehabilitated and retrofitted more than 164 boreholes across different regions in the country, and ten out of this is implemented in Han/Awab Conservancy in Kharas region. The Han/Awab Conservancy project directly benefited a total number of 1250 community members residing in the conservancy area with portable water as well as 30 backyard gardens established contributing to household food security. In addition, the project contributed significantly to communities’ wellbeing as the previous diesel cost for pumping is reduced to non-cost. 

In my conclusion, let me emphasize to our communities that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as the National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund and the focal point on climate change is fully committed towards addressing climate change amongst all our rural communities, and that the Government of the Republic of Namibia will continue to work tirelessly with the purpose of achieving poverty alleviation and ensure sustainable development in our country. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Han/Awab Conservancy and their supporting entity for a successful implementation of this project. I wish you the best as you continue with the implementation of this project. 

I thank you!!