Namibia Cheetah Conservation Centre Dairy Facility Installation Project

Increasing nature-based production and tourism with community participation

Under the partnership between the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Namibia Cheetah Conservation Fund, a support programme for wildlife protection, sustainable rural economic development and ecotourism was implemented in the rural Otjozondu region of Namibia, with a view to improving livelihoods in local communities. A cheese and yogurt production facility was constructed, and training on milk and milk product processing was carried out. Contributions were made to several Sustainable Development Goal targets. The project aimed to strengthen the effective use of natural resources (target 12.2), increase productivity in production and harmonization with natural life (target 8.4), support tourism that promotes employment by creating local products (target 8.9), secure sustainable food production systems (target 2.4), improve agricultural production capacity (target 2.a), end poverty (target 1.a) and stop biodiversity loss by preserving natural habitat (target 15.5). 

The Cheetah Conservation Centre project to construct a cheese and yogurt production facility is part of the longer-term support programme. This project aims to promote development in the Otjozondu region with the cooperation of local stakeholders, in accordance with national goals. It has brought knowledge and infrastructure for cheese and yogurt production to the region. The project is sustainable because it generates income and is owned by the local community. 

Given that the needs of local stakeholders aligned with the State’s National Development Plan, the project was fully funded by a grant that covers training sessions, equipment and logistic expenses. The Cheetah Conservation Fund has assumed the role of facilitator and ensures that the project’s income-generating activities are connected to wildlife protection. 

Under the Cheetah Conservation Fund project, TIKA supported the construction and installation of a cheese and yogurt production facility to utilize locally produced goat milk. With a processing capacity of 300 litres per day, the facility has a fully equipped dairy farm with a pasteurization and standardization unit, white cheese unit, yogurt unit and auxiliary units, which were procured from Turkey. In addition, 12,000 units of cheese and yogurt containers were provided for the first batch of products. Turkish experts also provided training sessions for local producers and members of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. As a result, milk processing capacity has been increased to improve the value chain (Sustainable Development Goal targets 8.4, 12.2 and 2.a), employment is supported (target 8.9) and food production is encouraged (target 2.4). These activities will help to reduce poverty by reducing regional development disparities (target 1.a); diversifying income in the region and establishing suitable facilities; ensuring a balance between natural life and local production (targets 2.a and 8.4); and supporting local initiatives that strive to protect biodiversity (target 15.5). By using modern production techniques, it is possible to protect biodiversity and limit the hunting of wild predators, such as cheetahs, which are one of the biggest threats to ovine breeding. 

The project, which was developed based on Turkey’s experience in milk production, can be replicated in all developing regions. Turkey's experience in the field of milk processing can be used as the basis for development cooperation with all relevant stakeholders in the relevant natural environment.