Namibia to benefit from N$40b cooking summit pledge

Namibia has an opportunity to benefit from U$2,2 billion pledged during the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa.

This was announced by information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus while delivering the 11th Cabinet decisions yesterday.

“Cabinet took note of the availability of the pledged funds amounting to US$2,2 billion (approximately N$40 billion) and that Namibia has the opportunity to access and benefit from the said funds,” Theofelus said.

The aim of the summit, held in Paris, France, in May this year, was to make Africa a better place by mitigating the impacts of a lack of access to clean cooking, which has dire consequences for health, climate and gender equality.

Agriculture, water and land reform minister Calle Schlettwein attended the summit.

Theofelus said the Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Health and Social Services to find mechanisms to access the funds to assist the concerned communities.

Theofelus directed the ministries to submit an update report to the 16th deliberative Cabinet, scheduled for 10 September.

In addition, the Cabinet approved the hosting of the African Telecommunication Union preparatory meetings for the World Telecommunication Development Conference and Plenipotentiary Conference in Namibia, from 15 to 19 July.

“Cabinet approved the hosting of the Pan-African Women’s Day on 3 August 2024 in Windhoek, under the theme: ‘Invest in Education: Securing the Future of Women and Girls in Africa’, and further directed relevant offices/ministries/agencies to provide logistical support and assistance with protocol arrangements during the event,” Theofelus said.

She further said the Cabinet took note of the Namibia National Reinsurance Corporation’s 2023 annual report and authorised the finance and public enterprises minister to table the report in the National Assembly.