PHASE 2 ACTIVITIES
The Zambezi region currently has 125 paid-up members so as one way of contributing to improved food security, the members agreed to plough back some of the collected membership fees to the needy women groups to enable them start small income generating activities (IGAs) that could help them to feed their households. To-date at least ten women groups have embarked on various IGAs such as running small cuca shops, tailoring, vegetable gardens, small bakeries, etc.
So far Omusati region has 262 registered member and the rural women in this region are very industrious, they try their best at various IGAs to be able to put food on the table for their households. Some are involved in the following IGAs: Tsotso stove making, pottery, basket weaving, selling Kapana, rabbit farming, needlework, poultry farming, training others in pottery and basket weaving, manufacturing marula nut crack machinery, etc.
Currently, Oshana has 300 registered members, however being in the rural areas does not stop them becoming very creative. Most of them are involved in at least some sort of IGA that helps them to sustain their households and these include ceramics, gardening, tailoring, pottery, basket weaving and manufacturing marula nut crack machines.
Erongo Region NRWA members were among the farmers that participated in the regional horticulture workshop at Okondjatu, Otjozondjupa Region – April 2019 (photo courtesy of Agnes Tjindjo)
From the 04th – 07th April 2019, the RFP of Erongo Regiona together with other 20 NRWA members joined other farmers in a three day regional horticulture workshop facilitated by Otjozondjupa Peace Garden in collaboration with Okondjatu Farmers Association. The training which was sponsored by the Agribank of Namibia aimed at sharing information and equipping farmers with farming skills that could help them to diversify their source of livelihoods. Participants were also taught some home economics like how to make jam using indigenous fruits. As an outcome from this training rural women in Daures Constituency have moved away from depending only on livestock farming to backyard gardening thus enabling them to produce enough food and at the same time generating some income for their households.
In June 2019, the RFP facilitated a meeting during which the women of Daures and Othohorongo communal areas elected a constituency committee to work with WIBA (Women in Business Association) that could help with training and providing technical assistance to women involved in small businesses in the area. During the same meeting, NRWA members used the opportunity to elect women to represent NRWA to the constituency development committee (CDC) and regional disaster risk management committee (RDRMC) thus responding to the invitation from Erongo Regional Council and at the same time ensuring that the interest of rural women are secured.
As Namibia was having its national presidential and parliamentary elections in November 2019, the RFP organized a one day meeting to sensitize rural women in Daures Constituency about the importance of participating the elections. Women were also encouraged to go out in their numbers on the 27th November 2019 and vote for their preferred candidates as participating in the elections could be one way they could influence policies, contribute to the bringing of development in their area, etc. Using the mainstreaming approach, women used the opportunity to also discuss the following:
selling of raffle tickets and designing a booklet highlighting the cultural heritage of the area, which could be sold at various events.
Fundraising strategies in order to raise money for their regional/constituency activities such as the launch of the regional chapter. Some of the fundraising strategies agreed upon include.
Nominated women to represent the region at the RWA 10th anniversary in South Africa.
Discussed how to secure funds that could enable NRWA members to participate in the 2019 Omatjete Agricultural Expo, the rural women international day and the world food day 2019.
In May 2019, the rural women in Omatjete and the surrounding villages that are involved in food selling business faced a setback when the health inspectors blocked them from selling food because they had not been certified by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS). As this was depriving the rural women a source of livelihood, the RFP assisted to organize a meeting where health officials from MOHSS Omaruru were invited to sensitize the women on the importance of having a health certificate and the procedures of obtaining one. As a result of this meeting, the MOHSS granted the women two months to do business so that they could get some money to pay for the certificates. Now most of the women involved in food selling business operate freely as they all managed to get the required health certificates.
In July 2019, ten NRWA members from Daures Constituency together with other women in the region attended a business management training at Okombahe. The training was sponsored and facilitated by MGECW and WIBA respectively. During the training, women were taught how to do pricing/costing, bookkeeping, stock taking, etc. Early next year, participants will be given materials and equipment relevant to their business type by the MGECW.
As the RFP was one of the people that attended a training about “Empowering women in farming from seeds to feed in 7 days” in Tanzania and Zambia, she decided to pass on the knowledge to other fellow women. So in October 2019, she organized and facilitated a one day training of trainers (TOT) for 10 NRWA members who could also go back to their villages and train others. During the training, participants were taught how to grow hydroponic fodder for their livestock in seven days. This is one strategy how rural women can adapt to the impacts of climate change in an affordable and sustainable way.
Erongo RFP (Agnes) training the rural women in hydroponic fodder production (photo courtesy of Agnes Tjindjo)
Erongo RFP (Agnes) training the rural women in hydroponic fodder production (photo courtesy of Agnes Tjindjo)
With the support from MGECW, 15 NRWA members Daures Constituency were able to participate in the 2019 Omatjete Agricultural Expo, which took place from the 27th November – 01 st December 2019 at Omatjete. Participating in the agricultural expo helped to expose the rural women to what other women in the area and region as whole are doing. The also got an opportunity to exhibit the home made products thus enabling them to generate some income while establishing future marketing strategies.
NRWA members that participated in the 2019 Omatjete Agricultural Expo (photo courtesy of Agnes Tjindjo)
The RFP lobbied MGECW and MAWF to assist the members and in return the rural women received sewing machines, washing machines, bakery equipment and seeds to start income generating activities and backyard gardens to enable them become income and food secure.
Some NRWA members participated in a workshop on Namibia Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed Improvement project (NAMSIP). The main aim of the workshop was to explain the objectives of NAMSIP and to identify stakeholders and beneficiaries. At this workshop NRWA stood out as one of the main stakeholders to be consulted by service providers during the project implementation. NRWA is expected to assist with the creation of weeding groups, setting up of gardens and integrated aquaculture projects, etc. Again in March 2019, NRWA Kavango East was part of the regional meeting organized by the governor’s office to evaluate and discuss the way forward for “Operation Werengenge” food production campaign, which is aiming at making the region food secure.
The RFP made the effort to lobby the Otjozondjupa Regional Council for support towards the rural women in her region and as a result the council donated various equipment and materials that can enable NRWA members to embark on various projects such as poultry and goat farming. Items donated include water tanks, fencing materials, etc. Again to sharpen their skills, some women have started with literacy classes.
Advocacy and lobbying for food security initiatives for the benefit of rural women in the regions.