Chevron, through its subsidiary Harmattan Energy Ltd., has partnered with Palms for Life to launch a two-year emergency food support program in Namibia.
Set to run from September 2025 until September 2027, the initiative will target eight regions across the country in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President and a network of local partners.
At its core, the program will provide daily nutritious meals to more than 3,000 highly vulnerable individuals, including children under five, expectant and breastfeeding mothers, and marginalised groups. With household sharing taken into account, nearly 16,000 people are expected to benefit each year.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah welcomed the development, describing it as a timely intervention that strengthens government efforts to reduce malnutrition. “This initiative complements our national priorities to reduce malnutrition and strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities,” she said.
For Beatrice Bienvenu, Chevron’s Namibia and West Africa Country Manager, the impact was visible during a visit to Palms for Life’s Early Child Development Centre at Farm Uitkomst.
“Seeing nutritious school meals being provided to preschoolers in a remote community highlighted the initiative’s role in supporting education and demonstrating the government’s efforts against malnutrition,” she noted.
Bienvenu also toured a nearby clinic and spoke with community representatives working to combat malnutrition on the ground.
She framed the program as part of Chevron’s broader philosophy of community engagement.
“This program is a prime example of Chevron’s commitment to strengthening communities where we operate by working with trusted partners that can deliver both immediate assistance and lasting pathways toward food security.”
The collaboration builds on Palms for Life’s long-standing presence in Namibia, particularly through its network of Early Childhood Development Centres.
These centres are now set to expand into Community Protection Centres, which will not only serve as hubs for food distribution but also host nutrition education, parenting groups, and even small-scale community gardens to promote longer-term resilience.
By dovetailing with Namibia’s national strategies, the program ensures sustainability while offering immediate relief.
It is a dual approach: addressing hunger today while helping communities develop the tools to secure their own future.
Chevron’s investment in this humanitarian partnership comes as the company deepens its footprint in Namibia’s energy sector.
With an 80 per cent operating stake in Petroleum Exploration License 90 in the Orange Basin, and in PEL 82 in the Walvis Basin, Chevron is positioning itself as a significant player in the country’s offshore oil and gas story.
The food program, meanwhile, underscores the company’s recognition that energy development must be matched by social development if it is to carry credibility in the communities where it works.
