RMB channels N$1.75m to community projects
By Business Reporter
SINCE 2018, the Development Workshop Namibia (DWN) has received support totalling N$1.75 million from RMB Namibia which has been utilised for a number of community projects such as the land programme, sanitation programme, and the Covid-19 Emergency Support Programme.
This was said by Beat Weber of DWN last week who further said that the contributions from RMB were all strategic and critical investments into the early stages of programmes that address key development issues in Namibia and have subsequently developed into major national programmes.
“The land and sanitation programmes have contributed to national development policy, as well as development practice on the ground,” further stated Weber.
Phillip Chapman, CEO of RMB Namibia said RMB aims to work as a catalyst for the upliftment of Namibians all over the country through innovative solutions.
“Our contribution has resulted in the involvement of FNB in designing and testing a new home loan product for low income earners. They now employ 30 Namibians and have seven regional offices and projects in around 15 towns.
DWN is one of Namibia’s larger NGOs with an increasing and growing contribution towards more sustainable and inclusive urban development in the country.”
The programme for the Delivery of Affordable Land for Housing was given a much-needed financial injection in 2018 with an amount of N$250 000. Another contribution of N0 000 in 2020 was used for the revolving funds in Keetmanshoop and Karibib, and to establish the land programme office in northern Namibia.
Weber added, “The RMB contribution has allowed us to initiate what is today a significant land servicing programme for low-income residents, with continued growth across Namibia.”
RMB’s support further paved the way for a new FNB loan scheme currently piloted in Oshakati and Okahao. Through this scheme, clients of the DWN/NCE land programme are eligible for a FNB personal loan up to N 000 and a period between 24 and 48 months.
DWN initiated an urban sanitation programme with support from UN organisations, which encourages residents to build their own toilets, while providing building guidelines and training.
It also involves the work of many volunteers who implement sanitation awareness campaigns, informing residents on the importance of building and using toilets and the dangers of open defecation.
“The support from RMB with N$500 000 came at a critical moment to expand the programme in Windhoek, improve low-cost toilet designs and construct toilets in ten Kindergartens in Windhoek’s informal settlement and we are thankful for the opportunity afforded to us via RMB to work towards a healthier Namibian nation.”