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Rural poverty approaches, policies & strategies in Namibia


A National Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) was approved by the government in 1998. Its three main goals are to:

• foster more equitable and efficient delivery of public resources for poverty reduction across the country
• accelerate equitable agricultural expansion and improved productivity for greater food security
• develop options for non-agricultural economic empowerment

Over the longer term, the PRS focuses investment on transport and manufacturing, and on the building of human capital. In the short to medium term its focus is on income-generation through agriculture and tourism and by stimulating medium-sized and smaller businesses, and on the creation of safety nets for those who are vulnerable.

The National Agricultural Policy recognizes the need to manage and use water and agricultural resources to achieve sound socio-economic development. Its overarching objectives are to:

• empower communities to manage their agricultural resources sustainably
• ensure steady improvement in household food security and nutrition
• ensure that rural households have access to reliable supplies of clean water
• assist and advise on the land reform process
• improve income from agricultural activities

Source: IFAD