More than 600 temporary jobs were created in rural areas through the government's food for cash programme over the past twelve months.

The statistics were revealed by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development at a five-day Rural Development Review and Planning workshop at Keetmanshoop.

Minister Erastus Uutoni also added that 100 jobs were created for young artisans through the manufacturing of productive equipment for Rural Development Centres.

Uutoni also announced the Rapid Rural Transformation Initiative currently being piloted in the Omaheke Region will soon be extended to the Kunene Region. 

He singled out the generous support of the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) valued at N$8.4 million and the Rossing Foundation towards the latter initiative. 

The main focus of the initiative is to build resilience and self-help capacity in rural communities, particularly for women and youth, by providing them access to water, sanitation, education, and information and communications technology services. 

"I wish to encourage other development partners and members of the private sector to come on board and join us in expanding our community self-help initiatives in rural areas."

Regional councils across the country provided more than 50 grants totalling N$8 million to rural communities as microfinance and financing of food security projects.