FAO Green Cities Initiative aims to transform Eenhana, Namibia, into a green oasis

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Eenhana Town Council and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), signified a milestone event under the “Green Cities Initiative (GCI): flagship cities for integrated green oases and food systems” project with the official handover of a nursery and a symbolic tree-planting ceremony in Eenhana, Ohangwena Region.

The event marked a crucial step toward a greener, healthier, and more sustainable urban environment. With handing over of gardening tools, horticultural seeds, a solar-powered pump, and 1 400 fruit and forestry seedlings, the newly constructed nursery at Eenhana has been supplied with enabling tools to help the community promote biodiversity restoration and use, contribute to climate regulation, and engage in efforts towards food systems transformation.

A Transformative Initiative

During the keynote address, His Worship Omri-Onn Kavandje, the Mayor of Eenhana, welcomed attendees, emphasizing the town’s vision of “Greenside” living and the critical role urban forestry plays in fostering resilience against climate change. “The products and services from our natural resources directly support the well-being of urban communities,” he said, underlining the strategic importance of integrating urban green spaces into city planning to tackle food insecurity and environmental degradation​.

Meanwhile, Qingyun Diao, FAO Representative in Namibia, highlighted the initiative’s focus on sustainable practices. “Through this initiative, we are promoting better nutrition and a better environment by increasing access to locally grown food and expanding green spaces, reducing the town’s vulnerability to climate change,” she said.

As one of the key outputs of the GCI, the project aims to strengthen the capacity of smallholder farmers to improve productivity. With support from MEFT, FAO has trained 31 community members, primarily women and youth, in urban gardening, ensuring the nursery’s sustainability and empowering locals to cultivate fruits and vegetables. Two training manuals on urban gardening and nursery management have also been developed under the project to enhance knowledge and skills.

A Model for Urban Sustainability

Nestled in Namibia’s Ohangwena Region, Eenhana has rapidly evolved from a town of 10 000 in 2014 to an estimated 38 000 by 2021. With this influx of people and rapid development, which is considered to have adverse effects on the environment—particularly due to the removal of trees to make way for commercial spaces and housing—the town has a pressing need to restore the lost trees, enhance biodiversity, and create green spaces for local residents and visitors alike.

The Director of Forestry at MEFT, Johnson Ndokosho, highlighted on the restorative nature of the project, aimed at reclaiming the trees lost due to development. “By creating vital urban forests, this initiative aims to restore biodiversity and provide lasting benefits to both the people and environment of Eenhana,” he stated.

Ndokosho added that seeing the project’s success, MEFT aims to collaborate further with FAO to secure funding to expand similar initiatives to other towns across Namibia. “Our vision is to replicate this model across the country, ensuring that all urban areas in Namibia benefit from greener environments and improved biodiversity restoration,” he emphasized.

A Thousand Cities

During an overviewpresentation on the project, Mbapeua Karutjaiva, FAO Project Assistant, informed that the Green Cities Initiative, launched globally by FAO in 2020, seeks to address urban challenges through nature-based solutions, urban agriculture, and better natural resource management to respond to the pressing challenges posed by unsustainable urban growth.

“The project aims to improve the resilience of 1 000 cities globally by 2030. Eenhana Town Council is fortunate to be one of the first town in Namibia to benefit, and our hope as FAO is that this project will have a lasting impact on the town and its residents,” Karutjaiva stated.

Overall, the event underscored the importance of partnerships in achieving urban resilience. FAO, Eenhana Town Council, and MEFT have demonstrated a successful model of urban greening, with plans to upscale the initiative drawing from the lessons learned.