EU gives N$26m for rural growth

FOUR rural communities have signed contracts for grants worth N$26,5 million with the European Commission to kick off projects in their areas.

Projects range from tourism development to the harvesting of the hoodia plant for pharmaceutical use. “These projects are financed by the European Union (EU) via the Commission under the rural poverty reduction programme,” said Dr Elisabeth Pape, EU Ambassador to Namibia, at the signing ceremony, held in Windhoek recently.”They are meant to stimulate rural economic activities and to raise the income of people living in those areas.”The call for proposals received a large response with 115 applications, Pape added, but this had to be brought down to 13 projects, nine of which were already signed earlier this year.The Namibian Development Trust (NDT) was given a grant of N$5,7 million.NDT will create jobs in the Hardap and Karas regions by promoting community-based tourism and development of natural products.A project of the Integrated Rural Development and Natural Conservation (IRDNC) will promote tourism in 10 communal areas in Kunene and Caprivi to the tune of about N$6,2 million.The Namibia National Farmers’ Union received N$9,2 million to promote sustainable hoodia harvesting and production.The Rural People’s Institute for Social Employment in Namibia (RISE) received about N$4 million to increase savings and credit facilities for rural households in Kavango.”These projects are financed by the European Union (EU) via the Commission under the rural poverty reduction programme,” said Dr Elisabeth Pape, EU Ambassador to Namibia, at the signing ceremony, held in Windhoek recently.”They are meant to stimulate rural economic activities and to raise the income of people living in those areas.”The call for proposals received a large response with 115 applications, Pape added, but this had to be brought down to 13 projects, nine of which were already signed earlier this year.The Namibian Development Trust (NDT) was given a grant of N$5,7 million.NDT will create jobs in the Hardap and Karas regions by promoting community-based tourism and development of natural products.A project of the Integrated Rural Development and Natural Conservation (IRDNC) will promote tourism in 10 communal areas in Kunene and Caprivi to the tune of about N$6,2 million.The Namibia National Farmers’ Union received N$9,2 million to promote sustainable hoodia harvesting and production.The Rural People’s Institute for Social Employment in Namibia (RISE) received about N$4 million to increase savings and credit facilities for rural households in Kavango.