Immediate Risks and Disruptions

• The freeze has exacerbated chronic supply chain challenges, leading to more prominent condom stock-outs.
• Staff Terminations: Some US Government implementing partners have issued termination letters to staff due to cash flow challenges caused by the funding freeze.
• Service Disruptions: HIV prevention programs, especially those targeting key populations, have been disrupted.
• Compromised Surveillance: Data collection continues but with compromised quality control and collation.

Politically Relevant Updates

• Government Response: A formal statement has not been issued. There is no country-level task team to discuss the impact of the US funding freeze.
• Regional AIDS Coordinating Committees (RACOC): These multisectoral committees - comprising community service organizations (CSOs), government ministries, local authorities, and regional leaders from all 14 regions of the country - held a seminar to discuss the decentralized HIV response. Suggested resolutions included enhancing HIV prevention and operationalizing the sustainability roadmap through social contracting and other modalities.
• Given the latest decisions made by the US Government, the Ministry of Health and Social Services has called an urgent meeting of the Sustainability Planning Steering Committee and stakeholders for Friday 07 March 2025, to discuss the operationalization of the Namibia Sustainability Roadmap for HIV, TB, Malaria and Viral Hepatitis. 

Civil Society Impact and Response

• Cash Flow Issues for Community Partners: Despite the US Government’s waiver allowing some lifesaving services to be continued during the freeze, funds for these activities have not been transferred to implementing partners, leading to staff terminations due to cash flow issues.
• Hybrid Meeting: A meeting between CSOs, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), and UNAIDS discussed the implications of the recent freeze of US funding. Participants called for increased networking and collaboration among community leaders and agreed on actionable steps to mitigate adverse effects.
• Namibian Sex Workers Alliance (NAMSWA): The Namibian Sex Workers Alliance convened the African Sex Workers' Alliance (ASWA) to discuss the impact of the reinstatement of the US’ Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy and the implications of the funding freeze.