Mr. Anping Ye, FAO Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST) (middle), pictured alongside Qingyun Diao, FAO Representative in Namibia (right), and Jian Jiang, FAO-PST Programme Officer, during a meeting with government official

Windhoek, Namibia—During his recent visit to Namibia, Mr. Anping Ye, FAO Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST), conducted strategic discussions with key stakeholders in a significant move to advance the South-South Cooperation (SSC) initiative. These engagements underscored FAO's role within the United Nations system in Namibia and its commitment to sustainable development through SSC.

Mr. Ye met with the Ambassador of China to Namibia, H.E. Zhao Weiping, and the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Hopolang Phororo, emphasizing collaborative efforts that align with Namibia's national goals.

Engagement with the Chinese Ambassador

On 27 October, Mr. Ye held a virtual meeting with H.E. Zhao Weiping, China's Ambassador to Namibia. During the call, Mr. Ye provided updates on the SSC project and expressed gratitude for the Ambassador's continuous support. They discussed strengthening ties between China and FAO Namibia. They explored the possibility of developing a new SSC project under the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Global Development South-South Cooperation Fund.

In the spirit of collaboration, Ambassador Zhao affirmed China's dedication to supporting Namibia's agricultural advancement. "China is committed to supporting Namibia in advancing its agrifood sector," he stated. "Through our collaboration with FAO, we are investing in practical solutions that can directly benefit Namibian communities."

The Ambassador highlighted key areas of innovation, particularly in crop management, irrigation, and livestock care, which are essential to Namibia's agricultural transformation.

Strengthening UN Collaboration

On 28 October, Mr. Ye met with Ms. Hopolang Phororo, UN Resident Coordinator, at the UN House in Windhoek. Their discussion focused on expanding SSC collaboration within the UN system to support Namibia's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr Ye introduced the Namibia SSC project, and Ms Phororo expressed the UN's strong support for FAO Namibia's initiatives.

"The South-South Cooperation project resonates with the United Nations' mission to support sustainable development across Namibia," Ms. Phororo noted. "FAO's facilitation ensures that this cooperation brings real, measurable change to the communities we serve." She emphasized opportunities to integrate SSC initiatives across UN agencies, further enhancing alignment with Namibia's development priorities.

Towards Sustainable Impact

Accompanied by Mr Peter Anaadumba from FAO's Regional Office for Africa (FAO-RAF) and Mr Peter Chiwada from FAO's Subregional Office for Southern Africa (FAO-SFS), In discussion with Ms. Qingyun Diao, FAO Representative in Namibia, Mr Ye highlighted PST's commitment to long-term capacity building on climate adaptation and resilient farming, which will support Namibia's agricultural sector over time.

PST aims to create a sustainable framework that addresses Namibia's unique challenges and promotes agricultural resilience by focusing on knowledge transfer, community-based solutions, and climate adaptation practices.

These high-level meetings underscore FAO's dedication to aligning SSC projects with Namibia's national development goals and the SDGs. Through tailored interventions, FAO continues to foster sustainable growth and resilience for Namibian communities by promoting inclusive solutions that support the country's long-term development trajectory.