Welcoming our new YPARD Namibia Country Representative

We're thrilled to welcome our new YPARD Namibia Country Representative, Victoria Hauwanga!

Victoria brings extensive experience to the agricultural sector in Namibia, grounded in a strong academic background in agriculture and a commitment to sustainable development. Her academic journey began with a Higher Diploma in Agriculture, followed by an Honors degree in Food Science and Technology. She later earned an MBA in Natural Resource Management, focusing her dissertation on the impact of climate change on crop productivity among subsistence farmers in the Omusati region of Namibia.

Victoria's dedication to climate resilience and agricultural innovation has been a driving force in her career. In support of climate action, she completed two-day training in 2023 on Digital Climate Information and Advisory Services (DCAS) to assist smallholder farmers across Southern Africa in building climate resilience. Additionally, she serves on the Omusati Communal Land Board within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, representing women in farming—an appointment that reinforces her commitment to community agricultural development.

As the YPARD Country Representative for Namibia, Victoria aims to advance sustainable practices and foster innovation in the agricultural sector. Her plans for YPARD Namibia include promoting educational initiatives, hosting capacity-building seminars, and establishing collaborations with local educational institutions and agricultural organizations. Through these initiatives, she strives to empower young professionals and smallholder farmers, particularly youth, to engage in agribusiness and contribute meaningfully to food security.

Victoria is also committed to inspiring and mobilizing young people in Namibia to support a sustainable agriculture and food system, with a focus on climate-smart agricultural practices. Her vision for YPARD Namibia is to advocate for strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, promote smart agricultural practices among smallholders, and enhance food systems in rural communities.

In all her efforts, Victoria is driven by a passion for empowering young people, uplifting smallholder farmers, and advancing Namibia’s journey toward sustainable and resilient agriculture.

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Welcome, Victoria! We're excited to have you in the YPARD network.