As Namibia’s cities expand and climate pressures mount, a new movement is taking root in urban agriculture. More than a way to grow food, it is a pathway to sustainable development, social equity, and economic opportunity. In Windhoek and beyond, families and communities are transforming vacant lots, rooftops and informal settlements into thriving gardens, chicken coops and micro-farms. This blog explores how investment in urban agriculture can build resilience in the face of water scarcity, rapid urbanization, and food insecurity. 

The Urban Opportunity 
Between 2011 and 2023 Windhoek’s population grew by more than 65 percent, stretching infrastructure and basic services to the limit. Informal settlements in Windhoek are growing at an estimated rate of 6.1% annually—nearly twice the rate of the city’s overall population growth. Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 households currently reside in these settlements, many of whom face severe development challenges. A 2016 study found that 63% of households in these areas experience food insecurity1, lacking consistent access to affordable and nutritious food. 

 At the same time, climate variability, rising prices and economic shocks make it harder for low-income families to put healthy meals on the table. Urban agriculture can tackle these challenges simultaneously by: 

• Producing fresh, affordable food close to consumers 
• Creating income opportunities for women and youth 
• Promoting sustainable resource management 

A Catalyst for Multiple Sustainable Development Goals 
Urban farming in Namibia contributes directly to at least nine Sustainable Development Goals, from Zero Hunger and Good Health to Gender Equality and Climate Action. By integrating waste recycling, nutrition education and circular economy principles into urban food systems, it strengthens community cohesion and builds local expertise in sustainable practices. 

From Emergency Response to Strategic Initiative 
During the Covid-19 pandemic, UNDP Namibia, through support from Government of Japan supplementary budget, launched the Build Back Better Agriculture Project to address immediate food shortages. Today, it has become a comprehensive intervention reaching over 1, 300 low-income households and microenterprises. Key components include: 

• Digital agriculture tools for better crop planning 
• Solar-powered mobility to transport produce to markets 
• Sustainable water management and precision irrigation 
• Climate-smart farming methods and drought-resistant crops 
• Vocational training through TVET colleges 

“Since the Covid pandemic, I could see how hunger affects my neighbours, so I approached one of them and showed her how to grow vegetables in her backyard, using old tyres. I have now trained 41 people in Goreangab on how to build food circles and make compost. I believe this is my little way of helping to solve the problem of hunger in my community.” 

Auguste, Goreangab 

Water-Wise Solutions for a Dryland Nation 
With 70 percent of Namibians living under water stress and groundwater recharge rates critically low, urban agriculture must embrace water saving innovations. Windhoek can learn from Mixteca -tolerant crop varieties and geotolerant crop varieties and geoagricultural mapping can dramatically reduce water use while boosting yields.agricultural mapping can dramatically reduce water use while boosting yields. 

Mobilizing Investment and Partnerships 
Scaling up urban agriculture requires bold collaboration between government, private sector investors and communities. Insights from the Windhoek Economic Development Investment Forum highlight the need to shift from grant dependency toward sustainable financing mechanisms that deliver solutions at local authority level, such as blended products, sustainability bonds, as well as support the strengthening of efficiencies and revenue collection mechanisms. Ghana’s localization of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) offers a compelling example worth exploring with local authorities. Through district-level financing strategies, initiatives like One-District-One-Factory, One-Village-One-Dam, and Planting for Food and Jobs demonstrate how integrated approaches can unlock capital for high-impact projects while promoting social inclusion and environmental stewardship. 

https://inff.org/resource/integrated-assembly-financing-frameworks-iaffs-of-ghana