EU funds Namibia's education, agriculture sectors

The European Union (EU) has availed 68 million euros in funding to the Namibian government under the National Indicative Plan (NIP) which will govern development cooperation between EU and the southern African country until 2020.

The money will be used to support mostly key areas of education and agriculture over the next five years.

Part of the funds will be used to strengthen civil society institutions as well as the realization of development programmes.

EU Ambassador to Namibia Raul Fuentes Milani said Tuesday during the signing of the NIP that 20 million euros will be used in the agriculture and rural economic sector where focus will be placed on strengthening the livestock value chain in the Northern Communal Areas.

"By adapting to a more commercial oriented approach of cattle producers it is believed that more wealth and employment is generated, not only for the farmers and their communities, but also by creating jobs for others in the value chain," Milani said.

Furthermore, the support is expected to support better rangeland management through tackling overstocking.

The objective is to improve wealth created from the natural resources based sectors in a sustainable way to address issues of poverty and unemployment and explore possible transition to a "green economy."

Thirty six million euros will be spent on the education sector with 9 million euros supporting vocational training to enhance the employability of Namibian youth.

Support will also be given to civil society organizations to engage as effective partners.

The NIP has been guided by Namibia's Fourth National Development Plan which focuses on areas with a direct link to economic growth, employment creation and income equality as a strategy for addressing poverty and unemployment. Endi