Rural Poverty Reduction Gets a Major Boost

from All Africa

The Namibian (Windhoek)
NEWS

By Absalom Shigwedha

A FOUR-YEAR project aimed at reducing poverty in rural areas was launched in Windhoek yesterday morning.

The project is a partnership between the Namibian Association of Community-Based Natural Resource Management Support Organisations (Nacso) and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

It will be known as the Community-Based Natural Resource Management Enterprise Support Project (CESP).

The project aims to train 12 conservancies and community management groups in basic business management and tourism skills to help them manage their organisations in a professional manner.

The other objective will be to expand rural enterprises and create jobs by supporting existing businesses and nurturing new ones.

Launching the project yesterday, Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore said it was important to focus on rural enterprises and conservancies, as they offer an ideal vehicle to support programmes addressing social problems.

"It is important that they have the required expertise and skills to make the necessary and constructive contribution to our economy," said Konjore.

The project is funded by VSO and the European Commission (EC) to the tune of 750 000 euros, while Nacso is the implementer.

The Head of the EC delegation to Namibia, Dr Elisabeth Pape, said the project would reinforce Government's Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme, through which rural communities benefit from natural resources in their areas in a sustainable manner.

She said although Namibia was blessed with unique wildlife and landscapes, they would be useless if people did not benefit from them.

Pape said if people were allowed to benefit from natural resources, they would have the will to preserve them.

The CESP project will cover all the regions except Khomas and will have 18 000 direct beneficiaries and 89 000 indirect beneficiaries.