The Capricorn Foundation inaugurated phase two of its Food Waste Challenge (FWC) in Windhoek on Wednesday.
This year’s FWC seeks solutions that can build or expand self-sufficient social enterprises to address Namibia’s food waste problem, while also creating jobs for Namibians.
It is being held under the theme ‘How can we use social entrepreneurship to reduce food waste radically while creating employment opportunities?’
Marlize Horn, Executive Officer of the Capricorn Foundation, stated during the event that Namibia placed 78th out of 116 nations in the Global Hunger Index in 2022. She said scavenging for food at dumpsites across the country or begging for food on street corners has become all too common in Namibia.
Horn said the 2022 Challenge was aimed at discovering solutions to effectively reduce food waste so that rejected food that is still fit for human consumption can reach more disadvantaged people.
Phase 2 of the challenge will focus on how social entrepreneurship could contribute to not only addressing the problem of food waste, but also creating job opportunities.
”This year, social entrepreneurs can ‘explore business opportunities within the value chain of food production, food processing, or food distribution that can positively impact communities and address the problem of food waste while also being a catalyst for job creation,” she said.
The FWC is based on an open innovation platform, with a cash award of N.dollars 100 000 from the Capricorn Foundation, as well as a branding refresh and marketing package worth N.dollars 50 000 from Synergi Marketing.
Hennie Geldenhuys, Chief Marketing Officer of Synergi Marketing, said they believe that by sharing information to empower the Namibian community, they will connect Namibians and international stakeholders to collaborate and take responsibility for food insecurity solutions and job creation in Namibia.
”We want to inspire and encourage other media institutions and stakeholders to take up this challenge and be a vehicle for positive change in Namibia,” he stated.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency