Household Food Security Assessment NAMIBIA, July 2013 Namibia Red Cross Society This assessment was made possible through the technical and financial support of the British Red Cross. Assessment teams All regions: Sophia Dunn – Food Security and Livelihood Consultant – Team Leader Hilma Kambunda – Monitoring and Evaluation Office – Namibia Red Cross Society Shali Naukushu – Regional Manager, Oshikoto Region – Namibia Red Cross Society Kunene: Robie Uapingeno, Sostenes Maundu, Johannes Shilihuleni, Pelè Mbinge Mausorahi, Tuaondja Mbinge, Uaereke Ndunge, Mbinge Kahijakune, Vejamuavi Kavetu Oshikoto: Kuumbwa Rakkel, Nakanduungile Onesmus, Israel Mw. Hangulu, Fillemon Kavango: Mende Adelhaids, Olavi Sirka, Rufinius Nyangula, Karupu Haingura, Tobias Philip Janipho Report written by Sophia Dunn ([email protected]). Cover photo: Cattle post – Olukonda, Oshikoto Region Credit: Sophia Dunn ii Acronyms ADC Agricultural Development Centre ART Anti-retroviral Therapy BRCS British Red Cross Society CMAM Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition ELCIN Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia ELCRN Evangelical Lutheran Church in Republic of Namibia GRN Government of the Republic of Namibia HH Household HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus LLH Livelihood LWF Lutheran World Federation NRCS Namibia Red Cross Society OPM Office of the Prime Minister UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNOCHA United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs US United States WFP (United Nations) World Food Program Table of contents Key Statistics ................................................................................................................................. 7 1. Executive summary ............................................................................................................. 12 2. Background of Namibia ...................................................................................................... 15 3. Introduction to the assessment ......................................................................................... 15 4. Assessment methodology .................................................................................................. 16 5. Assessment findings ........................................................................................................... 20 KUNENE REGION ..................................................................................................................... 20 Locations visited ..................................................................................................................... 21 Summary of characteristics of wealth groups ........................................................................ 21 Impact of the drought ............................................................................................................. 22 Seasonal calendar .................................................................................................................. 22 Sources of income & food ...................................................................................................... 23 Source of water ...................................................................................................................... 25 Impact of the drought ............................................................................................................. 26 Coping strategies ................................................................................................................... 26 Assistance received ............................................................................................................... 32 Market functioning and price .................................................................................................. 32 Summary of the main findings: ............................................................................................... 34 Recommended interventions.................................................................................................. 35 OSHIKOTO REGION ................................................................................................................. 37 Locations visited ..................................................................................................................... 38 Summary of characteristics of wealth groups ........................................................................ 38 Crop production ...................................................................................................................... 39 Crop storage ........................................................................................................................... 39 Livestock disease ................................................................................................................... 39 Livestock pasture ................................................................................................................... 39 Water availability .................................................................................................................... 39 Seasonal calendar .................................................................................................................. 39 Source of water ...................................................................................................................... 43 Impact of the drought ............................................................................................................. 43 Coping strategies ................................................................................................................... 43 Assistance received ............................................................................................................... 44 Market functioning and price .................................................................................................. 44 Summary of the main findings ................................................................................................ 45 Recommended interventions.................................................................................................. 45 KAVANGO REGION ................................................................................................................. 46 Locations visited ..................................................................................................................... 46 Summary of characteristics of wealth groups ........................................................................ 46 Crop production ...................................................................................................................... 48 Crop storage ........................................................................................................................... 48 Livestock disease ................................................................................................................... 48 Livestock pasture ................................................................................................................... 48 Water availability .................................................................................................................... 48 Seasonal calendar .................................................................................................................. 48 iv Source of water ...................................................................................................................... 51 Impact of the drought ............................................................................................................. 51 Coping strategies ................................................................................................................... 52 Market functioning and price .................................................................................................. 52 Recommended interventions.................................................................................................. 53 6. Humanitarian/development stakeholders ......................................................................... 55 Government assistance .......................................................................................................... 55 Assistance available to farmers (ongoing) ....................................................................... 55 New government assistance (drought responses)........................................................... 56 7. Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................. 56 8. Annexes ................................................................................................................................ 58 List of Tables Table 1: Summary of drought impact in each assessed region .................................................... 13 Table 2: Summary of coping strategies by region ......................................................................... 13 Table 3: Summary of market price data and income gap by region .............................................. 13 Table 4: Food items priced ............................................................................................................ 18 Table 5: Non-food items priced ..................................................................................................... 19 Table 6: Caloric value of the food component of the minimum expenditure