Speeches Shim
The U.S. government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated 176 tablet and 53 laptop computers, as well as 250 remote temperature monitoring devices and 2,000 terabytes in hard-drive capacity to Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services to support the country’s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. The electronic equipment will be used for data entry at vaccination sites and for monitoring purposes.
Every National Seed Authority requires state-of-the-art equipment to enable seed purity testing. In late 2020, the Zambian Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) reached out to USAID-managed Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project (Seed Trade Project) flagging their need for a modern digital microscope. In response, the Seed Trade Project awarded the Institute a US$9,000 in-kind grant to procure the digital microscope. The high-end microscope was delivered in April 2021 and followed by virtual training on its proper use and functionality on May 20, 2021.
It is not a hot day, but the sun is striking a bright reflection from the white sandy soils of the village at the outskirts of Oshakati, a town in northern Namibia. Standing by her mother, almost leaning over her lap, is her little daughter. The girl’s feet are pale white from the dust she gathered while playing in the yard, her hair is neatly braided into a long ponytail, displaying the artistry of her mother’s fingers. She is playing with a pair of old scissors, keeping her big bright eyes intensely focused on the visitor to their home.
Ask any farmer, and they’ll say this quote by B.C. Forbes, the founder of Forbes Magazine, is a truism – a way of life – not just a metaphor for how to live life. Prosperity comes to those who literally plant seeds. But nowadays, with climate change, invasive pests, and plant diseases, not every seed is equal. Through the Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project (Seed Trade Project), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is showing that a little upfront investment can be catalytic to long-term prosperity and food security.
The U.S Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), recently awarded ‘catalytic’ funding to four innovative investment vehicles to drive inclusive economic growth in Southern Africa. The awards will mobilize an anticipated $24 million in private sector investment to support small and medium enterprises and emerging farmers in the region.
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Last updated: July 29, 2021
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