Namibian job losses loom ahead of USAID’s Friday closure
Nearly all Namibian staff employed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including local nurses working in agency-funded programmes, will lose their jobs following the announcement that the agency will be dismantled by Friday, as per a Trump administration directive.
A notice issued on Tuesday announced that USAID staff would be placed on "administrative leave" by the end of the week, leaving several Namibian health programmes without funding and employees without jobs.
With funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Programme-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Namibia has been supporting the government’s goals and key PEPFAR initiatives under the 2016 Treatment Acceleration Plan (TAP).
TAP aims to achieve epidemic control by expanding HIV treatment in high-priority regions and urban hotspots where the HIV burden and unmet need for antiretroviral (ARV) treatment are highest.
These priority regions include Kavango, Khomas, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto and Zambezi, with urban hotspots in Gobabis, Grootfontein, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
The US government-sponsored DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) programme will also end.
'Shock and hopelessness'
Some nurses at government clinics participating in the initiative confirmed to Namibian Sun that they had lost their jobs.
Namibian employees attached to USAID have also received notices instructing them to stay home. Namibian Sun understands that hundreds of employees have been left stranded, although they have been informed they will be paid three months’ salaries.
Some affected workers expressed their “disappointment, shock and hopelessness” regarding the announcement but were reluctant to share further details.
USAID’s website is currently down, displaying a notice stating that all “direct-hire personnel” will be placed on leave, except for those involved in “mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programmes.”
Those considered exceptions will be notified by USAID leadership on Thursday.
The notice further states that the agency is developing a plan with the US State Department to arrange and fund return travel for USAID personnel posted outside the US within 30 days.
It also notes that exceptions for return travel extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on personal or family hardship, mobility, safety concerns or other reasons.
"Thank you for your service," the statement concludes.
Big impact
USAID distributes billions in aid to non-governmental organisations, aid groups and non-profits worldwide.
In Namibia, PEPFAR programmes such as the DREAMS project and other initiatives for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) and youth affected by Aids will be impacted.
Namibia has achieved a 92:99:94 status regarding the United Nations' 95:95:95 HIV target, making it one of the top 10 countries to have closed at least 80% of its gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022.
These achievements were largely facilitated through PEPFAR programmes.
Last year, PEPFAR announced a new five-year project titled ‘Reach Namibia,’ which aimed to support OVCs and keep youth Aids-free.
The project had an investment of N$840 million and was set to provide health services in eight regions.
Crushed dreams
The health ministry’s executive director Ben Nangombe has previously praised the DREAMS project for effectively engaging adolescent girls and young women, providing guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle while living with HIV/Aids.
Yesterday, Nangombe acknowledged receiving enquiries regarding the impact of the project’s closure but had not responded by the time of publication.
Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya reaffirmed health minister Kalumbi Shangula’s stance that Namibia will continue its health efforts despite the loss of US aid.
Kamaya acknowledged USAID’s significant role but emphasised that all health programmes are government initiatives and integral to the ministry of health.
“With or without them, we will continue providing services and healthcare to our people. Of course, the impact will be felt, but that cannot be an excuse for failing to deliver,” he said.
Kamaya reiterated that USAID funding served as a supplemental resource and should be viewed as such.
[email protected]
A notice issued on Tuesday announced that USAID staff would be placed on "administrative leave" by the end of the week, leaving several Namibian health programmes without funding and employees without jobs.
With funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Programme-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Namibia has been supporting the government’s goals and key PEPFAR initiatives under the 2016 Treatment Acceleration Plan (TAP).
TAP aims to achieve epidemic control by expanding HIV treatment in high-priority regions and urban hotspots where the HIV burden and unmet need for antiretroviral (ARV) treatment are highest.
These priority regions include Kavango, Khomas, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto and Zambezi, with urban hotspots in Gobabis, Grootfontein, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
The US government-sponsored DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) programme will also end.
'Shock and hopelessness'
Some nurses at government clinics participating in the initiative confirmed to Namibian Sun that they had lost their jobs.
Namibian employees attached to USAID have also received notices instructing them to stay home. Namibian Sun understands that hundreds of employees have been left stranded, although they have been informed they will be paid three months’ salaries.
Some affected workers expressed their “disappointment, shock and hopelessness” regarding the announcement but were reluctant to share further details.
USAID’s website is currently down, displaying a notice stating that all “direct-hire personnel” will be placed on leave, except for those involved in “mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programmes.”
Those considered exceptions will be notified by USAID leadership on Thursday.
The notice further states that the agency is developing a plan with the US State Department to arrange and fund return travel for USAID personnel posted outside the US within 30 days.
It also notes that exceptions for return travel extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on personal or family hardship, mobility, safety concerns or other reasons.
"Thank you for your service," the statement concludes.
Big impact
USAID distributes billions in aid to non-governmental organisations, aid groups and non-profits worldwide.
In Namibia, PEPFAR programmes such as the DREAMS project and other initiatives for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) and youth affected by Aids will be impacted.
Namibia has achieved a 92:99:94 status regarding the United Nations' 95:95:95 HIV target, making it one of the top 10 countries to have closed at least 80% of its gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022.
These achievements were largely facilitated through PEPFAR programmes.
Last year, PEPFAR announced a new five-year project titled ‘Reach Namibia,’ which aimed to support OVCs and keep youth Aids-free.
The project had an investment of N$840 million and was set to provide health services in eight regions.
Crushed dreams
The health ministry’s executive director Ben Nangombe has previously praised the DREAMS project for effectively engaging adolescent girls and young women, providing guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle while living with HIV/Aids.
Yesterday, Nangombe acknowledged receiving enquiries regarding the impact of the project’s closure but had not responded by the time of publication.
Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya reaffirmed health minister Kalumbi Shangula’s stance that Namibia will continue its health efforts despite the loss of US aid.
Kamaya acknowledged USAID’s significant role but emphasised that all health programmes are government initiatives and integral to the ministry of health.
“With or without them, we will continue providing services and healthcare to our people. Of course, the impact will be felt, but that cannot be an excuse for failing to deliver,” he said.
Kamaya reiterated that USAID funding served as a supplemental resource and should be viewed as such.
[email protected]
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