Latest Programme Updates

July-December 2022

Providing affordable services in informal settlements is a key priority to address the housing crisis in Namibia and uplift the urban poor.

As of December 2022, our programme has been developing more than 4,000 plots in 17 new residential neighbourhoods in 10 towns: Oshakati, Okahao, Opuwo, Oniipa, Otjiwarongo, Okakarara, Karibib, Keetmanshoop, Stampriet and Lüderitz.

July-December 2022

Local authorities often struggle to provide the necessary infrastructure to improve sanitary conditions in the slums and informal settlements of Southern Africa. DWN has therefore taken a bottom-up, Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach that supports and encourages residents to build their own safe toilets and to clean up their immediate surroundings.

Results summary 2022

Our Play For All early childhood development programme continues to grow. As of the end of 2022, we've reached 251 ECD centres in six Namibian towns, and a total of 8,751 children (48% boys, 52% girls).

Annual reviews

The Programme for the Provision of Low-cost Land for Housing supports local authorities by providing partially serviced and affordable residential land, offering an alternative to informal housing. It allows low-income earners to own a property with title, where they can invest incrementally and pass on wealth to the next generation.

By the end of 2022, the programme was operating in 10 towns and developing 17 new residential neighbourhoods with more than 4,000 plots.

The sanitation programme is implemented by Development Workshop Namibia (DWN), in partnership with the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) and UNICEF.

It uses an approach called Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS). CLTS is an internationally acclaimed methodology to improve sanitation in poor communities. It is fully endorsed by the Namibian Government and promoted through the Harambee Prosperity Plan II.

The programme has been implemented in the informal settlements of 9 towns.

DWN's Play for All programme, supports ECD centres (kindergartens) and families in Namibia with an objective to provide opportunities for every child to have the right start in life. We focus on impacts with low overheads and high efficiency. Our work is systematic and in close collaboration with relevant government ministries and private sector partners.

The programme is currently active in six towns across Namibia: Windhoek, Karibib, Omaruru, Katima Mulilo, Oshakati and Opuwo. It is benefiting over 250 ECD centres in informal settlements (slums), with some 8,676 children.