Government ties rural funding to performance, unveils N$10 million work programme
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned underperforming regional councils to improve service delivery, saying future funding will increasingly depend on how effectively development projects are implemented.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Annual Rural Development Review and Planning Workshop in Swakopmund, Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele, on behalf of Minister James Sankwasa, said some regional councils continue to fall short of expectations, with incomplete projects, unspent development funds and idle rural development centres denying communities much-needed services.
She said public funds are meant to improve people’s lives and should not remain unused, warning that poor performance and unauthorised expenditure will not be tolerated.
The deputy minister, however, commended regional councils that have demonstrated good governance and sound financial management, singling out the Erongo Regional Rural Development Forum and the Ohangwena Regional Council for their positive performance.
To support vulnerable communities, !Nawases-Taeyele announced that the ministry has allocated N$10 million to the Food/Cash for Work Programme during the current financial year.
She said the initiative will provide temporary income support while helping communities develop public infrastructure and strengthen resilience.
She acknowledged that the programme is not a long-term solution to unemployment but said it offers relief at a time when Namibia continues to face high unemployment, particularly among young people.
The deputy minister also called for stronger cooperation between the ministry and regional councils, urging local authorities to improve project implementation and submit accurate information to support effective planning and rural development.
Source: Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
