Windhoek – Country Club, The Empower to Adapt: Creating Climate Change Resilient Livelihoods Through Community Based Natural Resource Management in Namibia (CBNRM EDA) Project officially handed over sixteen (16) completed projects.

The Green Climate Fund through the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia’s Empower to Adapt: Creating Climate Change Resilient Livelihoods through Community Based Natural Resources Management in Namibia (CBNRM EDA) Project Grant Facility financed 31 grants projects to gazetted Community Forests and Communal Conservancies in 12 of the 14 political regions of Namibia. The funded projects have to date contributed towards empowering rural CBNRM communities in Namibia by increasing their resilience to adverse impacts of climate change such as protracted droughts, increased flood events, reduced crop production and livestock losses. Additionally, the interventions implemented by the projects are directly contributing towards the realization of Namibia’s obligations to national and international climate change goals, objectives and frameworks.

Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Iipumbu Shiimi, said that the impacts achieved to date on initiates such as these, which are geared towards adaptation to climate change shocks and stresses within the communal areas of Namibia are commendable. “This incorporation of nature-based enterprise concept for projects with income generation objectives, mainly fodder, horticulture and renewable energy gives me assurance on the sustainability of these interventions for diversified livelihood options,” he said. Furthermore, he shared his delight about Namibia as a developing country making effort towards building resilience to climate change impacts, such as the ones manifested by the sixteen (16) community projects.

Also speaking at the handover on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Honourable, Pohamba Shifeta, was Deputy Minster, Heather Sibungo, specifically touching on the project, she said “The EDA (Enhance Direct Access) modality is structured in such a way that guarantees that funding will be exclusively and directly channelled to the vulnerable gazetted Communal Conservancies and Community Forests, where their project’s impact is being realized” Sibungo said. “These projects will further contribute towards achieving the national objectives set in the National Policy on climate change and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC’s) as per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) “she further added.

The sixteen (16) projects handed over, was to the value of sixty-six million Namibia dollar (N$ 66 000 000 and were awarded to the communities located in Otjozondjupa, Omusati, Oshikoto, Kunene, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi, Erongo and //Karas regions. These self-determined community climate change adaptation interventions are aimed at improving livelihoods through the provision of water rehabilitated infrastructures, fire management, renewable energy and energy efficiency, poultry farming, livestock breeding scheme, bush to feed, hydroponics for horticulture and fodder production systems and a flood-relief centre with supporting facilities such as a boat and an early warning system.

These community projects have benefited a total of fifty thousand (50 000) beneficiaries, provided more than three thousand (3000) green jobs, and an area of more than five-point five (5,500 000) a million hectares (Ha) of ecosystems have been strengthened, restored, and are protected from climate variability and change. Through the rehabilitation of eighty-five (85) boreholes and four (4) earth dams, a total of more than two hundred and forty thousand 240,000 livestock (both cattle and small stock), as well as wildlife now have access to reliable and safe water supply despite climate shocks and stresses.

Closing of the ceremony in his vote of thanks, Chief Executive Officer, Benedict Libanda said that the project has not only made communities resilient despite climate change shocks and stresses but they have also contributed significantly towards the maintenance and improvement of ecosystem services and functions. For example, these 16 community projects will save 7,285,918.31 tonnes of CO2 from avoided emissions through renewable energy sources. “Over the past five years, the Environmental Investment Fund successfully mobilised more N$1.6 Billion, of which N$800 million is through grants and N$750 million through line credit lines. Every one dollar that has been invested through the budget provision of the Namibian Government attracted N$14. We will continue to engage multilateral climate and environmental funds as well as other development finance institutions to mobilise more funding to enhance our portfolio nationally as our mandate dictates” said Libanda.

About CBNRM EDA Project

The project titled “Empower to Adapt - Creating Climate Change Resilient Livelihoods through Community Based Natural Resource Management in Namibia” (CBNRM EDA) Project” is funded to the tune of USD 10 million by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) with the National Designated Authority (NDA) being the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The CBNRM EDA Project is implemented by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), as the accredited entity to the GCF, through a Project Management Unit (PMU) for 5 years (2017-2021).

For more information, contact:

Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF)

Lot Ndamanomhata

Tel: +264 811601846/+264614317706

Email: LNdamanomhata@EIF.ORG.NA

Visit  https://cbnrm.eif.org.na for more on the CBNRM EDA Project.