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Germany provides additional R100 million Covid-19 relief funding to South Africa

29.09.2020 - Article

Germany and the City of Cape Town have signed a financial agreement worth R 100 million grant funding for Covid-19 relief funding.

German Ambassador Martin Schäfer
German Ambassador Martin Schäfer© German Embassy South Africa

The R100 million top up a very successful ongoing cooperation program and will be used to support more soup kitchens across Cape Town as well as Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, the development of local food gardens, and to stimulate the informal economy through the provision of food vouchers that can be redeemed at local spaza shops.

Based on an initial assessment the funds will allow for the provision of 25 000 food vouchers per month for a 3-month period. Food vouchers will be provided to ECD staff and learners and their families, residents growing food gardens in their communities, and to support soup kitchens in Hanover Park, Manenberg, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha (Kuyasa, Monwabisi Park and Harare).
50 ECD centres will benefit through funding for 1500 job opportunities, with a further 300 ECD teachers supported funds for a 6-month period. 1000 residents will be assisted to grow urban food gardens.

The City of Cape Town will work with well-established NGO partner, VPUU NPC (Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrade) to ensure that the funding is allocated to those most in need, and that regular reports are provided to the German implementing partner KfW German Development Bank. VPUU have a long track record of community development through various urban upgrade and social upliftment programmes.

“We have seen how devastating the impact of the national lockdown has been on many of our residents, who have lost jobs and are unable to provide for their families. We have already worked throughout the lockdown to support soup kitchens with equipment and ingredients so that they can provide a warm meal to residents in need, but we have seen that many of our residents still need assistance with food aid. I am extremely grateful for this R100 million support from the German Government through KfW Bank because I know just how many residents this is going to benefit!” said Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato.

“We are in this together. The pandemic has terrible consequences for so many, all over the world, and here in South Africa. This is about solidarity with the most affected, to inspire hope and give comfort. And it is about strengthening local communities and those who care for their families, friends and neighbors. In the spirit of Ubuntu, we want to contribute to the wave of solidarity,” said German Ambassador Martin Schäfer.

In line with the general approach of creating safe and sustainable neighborhoods and to improve the quality of life for all residents, this investment is meant to strengthen social cohesion and better livelihoods among the most vulnerable of the society. In times of crises like this one strong partnerships and solidarity are key to overcoming the challenges faced by those in need.

Therefore, it is agreed to assist where that help is most needed and where members of the communities have little or no opportunity to provide their own livelihoods, i.a. pregnant women, families with young children and the sick. By using established voucher systems it is made sure that the funds invested remain circulating in the communities and thereby strengthen the local economy far beyond the direct recipients.

“The objective of these emergency relief measures is to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on poor households through increasing their access to food security interventions. By doing so, we aim to uphold the achievements of the successfully implemented ”Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading III - Project. I look forward to achieving this goal hand in hand with our long-standing partner, the City of Cape Town,“ said Silke Stadtmann, Country Director KfW South Africa.

This cooperation project is the latest addition to the German contributions to curb the negative effects of the pandemic in South Africa and world-wide. Since the beginning of the crisis, Germany has committed an additional amount of grant-funding of more than R350 million. The implemented projects include provision of PPE and laboratory material, additional temporary medical facilities in Eastern Cape and Gauteng Provinces, upgrading of hospitals and clinics, strengthening of service provision of municipalities, violence prevention efforts addressing especially adolescence, school health and employment creation and small-business support.

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