Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Details for Mechanism ID: 11529
Country/Region: Namibia
Year: 2009
Main Partner: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Multi-lateral Agency
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $20,000

Funding for Care: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HKID): $20,000

NEW/REPLACEMENT NARRATIVE

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) operates in Namibia through a branch office

in Windhoek and a field office at Osire in Otjiwarongo Region.

The Osire field office is dedicated to working in and with the refugee camp at Osire, which hosts, as of 31

July 2008, 6,582 refugees, most of which (74%) come from Angola, with the remainder coming from

Burundi, DRC and Rwanda.

The total Osire camp population is nearly evenly divided between women and men, half of the camp

population is under 17 years of age, and 35% is under 11 years. In addition, there are nearly 1,400

refugees that are non-camp based, but receiving support from UNHCR.

There are more than 300 orphaned children, half boys and half girls, all of which receive assistance from

UNHCR. There are 63 unaccompanied minors and separate children, all attached to families, and three

child-headed households. All the children attend school and are monitored by UNHCR community services.

Accurate data describing the total number of HIV positive children are unavailable, but there are at least

seven children on ART at the local health center (MOHSS). PMTCT services have been provided to the

refugees, and five babies were delivered and tested since January 2008, all testing negative.

The USG PEPFAR Team in Namibia intends to provide modest support to UNHCR efforts on behalf of OVC

at the Osire camp. UNHCR has been supporting boys and girls clubs with a component on HIV education

and prevention activities, but due to a lack of funds those activities have been scaled back to weekends

only. Sexual and gender-based violence, while not at exceptionally high levels, is a concern and the subject

of prevention initiatives. Finally, with an increasing number of teenage pregnancies resulting from some

younger girls engaging in sexual activities in return of small amounts of money and/or toiletries, there is a

compelling need to sustain prevention and education activities at the camp with the support of UNHCR.

New/Continuing Activity: New Activity

Continuing Activity:

Emphasis Areas

Gender

* Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs

* Reducing violence and coercion

Health-related Wraparound Programs

* Child Survival Activities

Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons

Human Capacity Development

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.13: