The Water Resiliency Project, Namibia
Enabling water and food security in rural regions of Namibia.
The Eco Village of !Gu-Oadara, Okandjira, Namibia
2018
2019
2024 Post Drought
The issue
In May 2024, the Government of Namibia declared a State of Emergency as it was hit by the worst drought in 100 years. One in five Namibians are considered food insecure. Some indigenous tribes are on the edge of extinction. Infant mortality rates are high due to malnutrition.
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During colonisation, the land was divided and split without any regard for animal migration, grazing routes nor tribal and ancestral lands. Traditional ways of life and kinship systems that maintained the balance of the land were replaced with conflicting ideologies, cattle farms and reliance on commercially produced goods.
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Fresh food is largely imported and very expensive in Namibia so people largely live on cheap imported GMO grains and sugar from South Africa which leads to health issues.
There is also a high unemployment rate and a sense of
purposeless that leads to unsocial behaviour including
violence against women and addiction.
​In 20217 WSN piloted a successful community gardens in a rural community called Okandjira. The gardens thrived and provided nutritious food with a surplus that could be sold. It solved issues of food insecurity and it improved health, well being and offered meaningful work to the local people. In 2021 drought badly impacted the project.
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Bore Holes were the initial solution. In spite of expert reports and drilling, no water source was found near the gardens.
Further research led the team to discover that bore holes exacerbate the flood/ drought cycle. The issue is that the aquifers are dry. When it rains the earth is so dry that the water just runs off the land and out to the ocean.
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We were then introduced to Water Cycle Restoration. This low cost method restores eco-systems by creating small ponds, lakes and features at acupuncture points in the land that enable underwater aquifers to be re-filled. In turn this hydrates and regenerates large areas of land and over times brings more vegetation and consistent rain patterns to drought prone areas.
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Food security
According to the 2022 Global Hunger Index, Namibia suffers from a serious level of hunger. Namibia imports up to 80 percent of its food. Malnutrition is a growing concern, with 43% percent of children stunted, wasting or underweight.
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water security
Namibia is one of the driest countries south of the Sahara and has been experiencing persistent drought conditions for more than nine years. Extreme weather patterns such as floods, extensive droughts and even further land degradation has placed Namibia in a precarious position.
Education
The national food security crisis is mainly due to limited access to regenerative farming technologies and practices; poor soil fertility; overgrazing; prolonged dry spells; limited access to markets; and land-use practices.
Approx 54% of small holder farmers are women who live in communal areas.
Healing
Namibia has suffered a violent and difficult history. It has some of the highest crime rates in the world. Contributing factors are: poverty, lack of basic needs being met, poor education and job opportunities. Namibia
has a high rate of domestic violence, particularly against women and children. Rape and murder cases are high.
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The solution: Phase 1 - The Plan
The regenerative long term solution is to dig lakes and mini reservoirs on acupuncture points on the land that enable the rains to replenish the aquifers and rehydrate the land for generations to come. Once the aquifers are replenished by the rains, trees can be planted and food grown and this in turn cools temperatures and brings more rain. See this film.
Although this is not new knowledge or technology it has been lost for centuries and re-membered by a few progressive water whisperers.
One such expert is Zach Weiss from Water Stories. See the video below.
Zach also makes educational films and runs courses teaching people how to read and rehydrate the land bringing it back into balance.
If we are successful in raising the funds, Zach will join us in late March 2025. Under his tutelage, 10 Namibian farmers and water experts will train with Zach learning how to read the land and to design Water Cycle Restoration systems that will enable the rains to replenish the aquifers, wells and bore holes.
They will learn how to bring water to the 3000 Hectares of land and to bring the Community Farm back to life.
Budget 1
We are reaching out to individuals to support us with this phase of the work. 100% of all the funds will go directly to the project . (The 2nd phase of work will be supported by International Trusts and Foundations. )
Expert Expenses, Recce, Training, Report,
Digger,Training Stipend and Expenses for
10 Namibian Trainees US$ 15,950
TOTAL COST US$ 15,950