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Panel addresses complexities of water rights for livestock and residential development applications.

The European Union (EU) and the Namibian government recently broke ground on the N$78.9 million Etunda Feedlot Project.  The Windhoek Observer’s Chamwe Kaira asked Ian Dupont, EU deputy head of mission in Namibia, about the Etunda project and other EU-funded agricultural projects in northern parts of the country.   Chamwe Kaira (CK): Why did the EU decide to fund the Etunda Feedlot Project, and what is its importance to the northern regions? Ian Dupont (ID): The European Union (EU) is funding the 1000-cattle capacity Etunda Feedlot, valued at N$80 million, as part of a broader N$400 million support package to the livestock sector in the Northern Communal Areas. The feedlot addresses low throughput and livestock quality challenges faced by NCA abattoirs, ensuring better-quality cattle for slaughter and enabling farmers in regions like Omusati, Kunene, and Oshana to access diversified markets. It is expected to strengthen the livestock value chain, improve business viability and increase income for cattle producers. Together with Namibia’s agriculture ministry, we support these strategic infrastructures across the NCA in order to enhance livestock productivity, strengthen farmers’ adaptation to climate change, and improve access for farmers in the Northern Communal Areas tolocal, regional and international markets through the Commodity Based Trade (CBT). It is an important milestone in Namibia’s agricultural and economic development. Our support wants to bring sustainable growth, innovation, and empowerment to cattle farmers in the NCA. Fully in line with the recently launched NDP6.  CK: What other agriculture projects is the EU funding in the northern regions? ID: Under the LSP, the EU is also financing the upgrading of the Opuwo slaughterhouse to a modern abattoir and building an Artificial Insemination Centre at Okapya, renovating quarantine and farm facilities at Omutambo Maowe Constructing an agricultural development centre, veterinary office and staff housing at Nkurenkuru, and upgrading the auction facility in Ncaute and enhancing quarantine facilities and farm infrastructure in Katima Mulilo. Additionally, earlier this month we handed over five 30-tonne 4×4 heavy-duty trucks to the Ministry of Agriculture to improve transport and logistics capacities across the sector. A further 9 vehicles will follow. CK: What other agriculture-related projects is the EU involved in across Namibia? ID: The EU co-founded the Communal Land Development Project (CLDP), contributing €17.2 million towards enhancing land management, productivity, and market orientation in communal areas through land use planning, securing land rights, infrastructure development, and advisory services. This programme concluded in March 2023. CK: Apart from agriculture, what other development projects is the EU involved in within northern Namibia? ID: The European Union and Namibia have a long-standing partnership that covers a wide variety of areas. From education to governance, renewable energy to critical raw materials, and agriculture.  The EU mainly focuses on three areas: education, inclusive green growth, good governance and gender equality. In this framework, we have supported early childhood education across the country. Additionally, we have also strengthened vocational training in Namibia. A flagship achievement was the creation of the Northern Training Hub, comprising the Nakayale, Eenhana, and Valombola Vocational Training Centres. These centres of excellence offer young Namibians access to skills development, especially in sectors like agriculture, construction, and renewable energy. It has boosted employability and supported regional development. This project was co-funded with the German GIZ.  Further, our support for green hydrogen (GH2) and critical raw materials is well known; however, those developments are mainly focused on the Erongo region and Lüderitz. Namibia successfully positioned itself as a frontrunner in GH2, with several large-scale potential investment projects in the pipeline, representing over €20 billion in projected investment, such as HyIron, Cleanergy, Hyphen, Zhero, HDF, Elof Hanssen, and Daures. On governance, the EU is supporting a nationwide campaign on fighting gender-based violence and positive masculinity, together with the UN. We also support the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia in their fight against corruption.  There are a number of other projects, specifically in the north, that are worth mentioning. For example, we have projects to strengthen conservation, to support anti-poaching efforts, to promote sustainable economic development and to improve governance across the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). The EU also contributed to a wildlife crime project, funding K9 unit operational costs. We have also supported the IUCN Africa Wildlife Initiative to address human-wildlife conflict, particularly involving large carnivores. In a show of solidarity with the Namibian people, the European Union also provided a humanitarian contribution of €911,000 (approximately N$19 million) to UNICEF to support Namibia’s drought emergency response to the effects of El Niño and La Niña. The contribution to UNICEF supports 86,000 Namibians in key affected areas, including Katima Mulilo (Zambezi), Andara, Nyangana and Rundu (Kavango East), Nkurekuru and Nankundu (Kavango West), Okongo, Eenhana and Engela (Ohangwena), as well as Khorixas, Outjo and Opuwo (Kunene). For marginalised communities, the EU, together with the Legal Assistance Centre has a project to strengthen the legal empowerment of Namibia’s San communities. It builds legal literacy, expands access to justice via paralegal training and mobile clinics, and engages state institutions to improve services and protect indigenous rights. There are many more regional and national projects, but too many to name here. CK: Do you have any concluding remarks? ID: The EU and Namibia have a partnership that works for both the Namibian people and European people. It also worth noting that the EU and its member states are Namibia’s number one trading partner and development partner. Not only does Namibia have a positive trade balance with the EU, we also have a very diverse trade profile that goes beyond the export of raw materials. The EU buys Namibian products that have local value addition such as high value fruits, beef, charcoal and many others. We remain committed to supporting job creation, innovation, and economic resilience. The Etunda Feedlot is one concrete example of how investing together in local infrastructure and skills can help build a stronger, more inclusive future for all Namibians. Caption Ian Dupont.  * Photo: European Union 

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