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Country analysis

Namibia

An estimated 390,000 people (15% of the population analysed) were expected to be facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity levels or worse across Namibia between January–March 2023, including 6,000 people facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels. A nationwide drought, increased food prices, and the impact of the Ukraine/Russia conflict, which has created restrictive measures on supply chains and livelihoods, are driving food insecurity.

Vulnerability to the increase of food prices is high in Namibia because poor households rely on ill-adapted rain-fed agriculture and external markets for food consumption, making them less resilient to shocks. The affected population implements negative coping strategies ranging from spending savings, borrowing money, and not paying rent to withdrawing children from schools and selling houses or lands.

For the April–August 2023 period, about 239,000 people (9% of the population analysed) are projected to experience IPC 3 or worse food insecurity levels, including 6,000 people facing IPC 4 levels.

(IPC 23/02/2023, UNDP 07/07/2022, IPC 23/02/2023, New Era 30/01/2017, IPC 23/02/2023)

An estimated 390,000 people (15% of the population analysed) were expected to be facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity levels or worse across Namibia between January–March 2023, including 6,000 people facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels. A nationwide drought, increased food prices, and the impact of the Ukraine/Russia conflict, which has created restrictive measures on supply chains and livelihoods, are driving food insecurity.

Vulnerability to the increase of food prices is high in Namibia because poor households rely on ill-adapted rain-fed agriculture and external markets for food consumption, making them less resilient to shocks. The affected population implements negative coping strategies ranging from spending savings, borrowing money, and not paying rent to withdrawing children from schools and selling houses or lands.

For the April–August 2023 period, about 239,000 people (9% of the population analysed) are projected to experience IPC 3 or worse food insecurity levels, including 6,000 people facing IPC 4 levels.

(IPC 23/02/2023, UNDP 07/07/2022, IPC 23/02/2023, New Era 30/01/2017, IPC 23/02/2023)

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Latest updates on country situation

12 September 2023

From July–September 2023, Erongo and Khomas are the only two regions in Namibia facing IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) food insecurity; the other 12 are classified as IPC Phase 3 (Emergency). Currently, approximately 579,000 people (22% of the population) are experiencing severe acute food insecurity (IPC 3 or worse). This represents a 59% increase from the previous IPC report covering April–June 2023, indicating that more people urgently require assistance to bridge the food gap and protect their livelihoods. The main factors contributing to the worsening food security situation in Namibia include climatic and price shocks, economic decline, and high unemployment rates. (IPC 06/09/2023, IPC 23/02/2023)

current crises
in Namibia

These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

NAM002 - Food Security Crisis

Last updated 30/09/2023

Drivers

Drought

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.5 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

REG012 - Southern Africa Regional Food Security Crisis

Last updated 30/09/2023

Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

3.6 High

Access constraints

2.0