The government, through the National Planning Commission (NPC), formalised a bilateral agreement with China on Thursday, securing an RMB 200 million (about N$488 million) developmental grant aimed at funding grassroots infrastructure and social services.
The deal was signed in Windhoek by National Planning Commission (NPC) Director-General, Ambassador Dr. Kaire Mbuende, and the Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping.
According to Mbuende, the funding facility will target modest, community-level investments designed to deliver quick, visible, and high-impact results in remote and underserved areas.
“The grant represents an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of targeted projects that improve livelihoods and advance inclusive and sustainable development,” he added.
According to Mbuende, through this agreement, they shall expand provisions for school infrastructure, healthcare services, and community services, such as water provisions
“The concept embodied in the design of this support is to have impactful projects implemented, and those that address the developmental needs. We shall therefore improve school hostels, clinics in remote areas, drill boreholes, support community projects, to name just some.”
He said these are impactful interventions in critical areas of community infrastructure, water supply, social services, local economic development, climate resilience, agriculture, and youth empowerment.
Meanwhile, the NPC, the Embassy of China, relevant Offices, Ministries and Agencies, Regional Councils, Local Authorities, and other stakeholders, will lead and coordinate the identification, appraisal, prioritization, and implementation of projects to be supported under this grant facility.
