BACKGROUND

The Rangeland and Marketing Development Support Project (RMDSP), funded by the EU, Meatco, was launched in September 2014 and will come to an end in March 2017, the Action is a continuation of the GOPA-CBLRM Action, which ended in June 2014, which in turn was built on work by DAPEES and NGOs. The RMDSP has the overarching goal of reducing the vulnerability of the rural population in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) of Namibia to the adverse impacts of climate change through sustainable management of rangeland, more productive herds, effective livestock marketing as well as improved crop production and the development of synergies between crops and livestock. The Action is being implemented by the Meatco Foundation in partnership with the Conservation Agriculture Namibia (C.A.N) in and funded by the European Union, represented by the European Commission as well as several other match donors including Meatco, Jamma International and the United States Forest Services.

The Action is operational in 34 implementation areas, also known as grazing areas (GAs). These GAs are dispersed over the seven northern regions of Kunene North, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Kavango East and West. The Kavango Region has recently been split into East and West and has only one Regional Livestock Marketing Co-operative operating in these two regions and is referred to as one region in this project. The Action only targets communal areas in these regions, which lie north of the veterinary cordon fence. The Action works directly with the communities that are living or having their livestock in the GAs. There are an estimated 4,354 people (farmers and their families) participating in the Action at the GA level. Improved marketing however is open to all residents of the 7 target regions. The Action builds on previous activities of the MAWF and MCA-CBLRM and further entrench the adoption of strategic improved livestock production practice and the need to market animals in order to build wealth and improve the resource base over time.

OVERALL AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Against the above background, the overall objective of the Action is to:

“To reduce the vulnerability of rural populations to the adverse impacts of climate change through further developing, testing and disseminating solutions and practices in rangeland, livestock and marketing, for climate change adaptation in the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia”

The specific objectives of the Action are:

1. To improve the awareness and active involvement of key stakeholders at the local, regional and national levels in climate change adaptation strategies related to rangeland, livestock, marketing and cropping.
2. To support locally established organisations to develop regionally appropriate responses to improve uptake of increased production of fodder, improved herd productivity as well as increased sales of livestock.
3. To improve the whole chain of production of livestock farmers in selected sites in the Northern Communal Areas.
4. To address key issues affecting the sustainability of the rangeland and livestock sectors.

TARGET GROUPS AND FINAL BENEFICIARIES

The main target groups are the communal livestock farmers in the selected GAs, the local Traditional Authorities and the RLMCs, in seven regions (Kavango East and West referred to as one region) of the NCAs. The final beneficiaries are the communal livestock and crop farmers in the GA communities and the local Traditional Authorities.