Namibia

Project overview

The Circular Integrated Aquaculture-Horticulture Systems for Climate Resilience in Namibia (NamiGreen) project supports the Government of Namibia’s efforts to transform its food systems by integrating aquaculture, horticulture, and inland small-scale capture fisheries. It aligns with national priorities for sustainable agriculture, food security, climate adaptation, and rural livelihoods while advancing GEF goals for ecosystem restoration, biodiversity, and GHG mitigation.

The project focuses on Namibia’s arid and semi-arid landscapes, where water scarcity, overgrazing from livestock dominance (70% of agriculture), underdeveloped freshwater aquaculture (around 40 tonnes/year), and declining inland fisheries (over 90% stock loss in key rivers) threaten food production, biodiversity, and community well-being. These vulnerable ecosystems, particularly in targeted areas like Calueque-Oshakati Canal, Kavango regions, Aminuis springs, and Neckartal Dam, represent critical opportunities for climate-resilient alternatives to traditional farming amid persistent droughts and climate variability.

In response, the project promotes integrated, circular, nature-positive food systems approaches that enhance resource efficiency, restore degraded lands, strengthen governance, and build community capacity. Through demonstration sites (23 total), policy reforms, sustainable production models with private sector partnerships, technical training on water reuse and waste-to-compost conversion, and improved market value chains, the project aims to boost local fish and crop production, reduce import reliance and post-harvest losses, improve nutritional outcomes, and rebuild ecosystem services. In doing so, it creates green jobs, strengthens climate resilience, and contributes to the long-term sustainability of Namibia’s unique food systems. 

Our approach

The project applies an integrated aquaculture-horticulture and fisheries approach that connects policy, production, ecosystems, and markets. Activities focus on strengthening food systems governance, promoting circular and climate-resilient practices, and improving value chains and market access for fish, horticultural products, and inland capture fisheries. The project also supports the adoption of monitoring systems, knowledge platforms, and technical capacities to guide decision-making and scaling.

Key actions include developing gender-inclusive production models at 23 demonstration sites, enhancing policy frameworks and inter-ministerial coordination, improving water reuse (50%+ increase) and waste conversion to compost, and creating local fish feed production. Capacity building and innovation are central to enabling smallholder farmers, fishers, and private-sector partners to adopt sustainable, integrated systems.

The project places strong emphasis on gender equality and social inclusion, ensuring that women, youth, and marginalized groups benefit from food systems transformation, with targeted training (at least 40% women), green job creation (200+), and equitable access to markets and resources.

Sites

The project is implemented in five key areas of Namibia:

• Calueque-Oshakati Canal
• Kavango West
• Kavango East
• Aminuis springs
• and Neckartal Dam.

These areas include targeted water bodies and landscapes such as major canals, river basins, perennial springs, and dams, which offer strategic opportunities for integrated aquaculture-horticulture systems and inland small-scale capture fisheries amid arid conditions.