More than 350 stakeholders from Namibia’s corporate sector, government, non-governmental organisations and civil society will gather next month for the inaugural Namibia Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Mukopano, an initiative aimed at improving collaboration and increasing the impact of corporate social investment across the country.
The platform, launched this week, is a joint initiative of MTC, the Capricorn Foundation, the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust and the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation.
The inaugural conference will be held on 11 August 2026 at the Hilton Windhoek, with organisers inviting additional companies to join the initiative.
Speaking at the launch, MTC Chief Brand, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability Officer Tim Ekandjo said the platform was created in response to Namibia’s persistent socio-economic challenges, including inequality, unemployment, poverty, inadequate educational infrastructure, malnutrition and limited opportunities for graduates and people living with disabilities.
Ekandjo said the organisers have decided to make attendance free to encourage broad participation.
“We want all 350 delegates to attend on a complimentary basis because this event is about driving social impact, not generating ticket revenue. One of the greatest privileges of being a partner is that you co-own the platform, and we execute the planning, organisation and strategy together as a unified team. Most importantly, your organisation becomes an architectural part of transforming the industry. On the 11th of August 2026, we will be gathering at the Hilton Hotel,” he said.
Unlike traditional conferences, the Mukopano will focus on facilitating partnerships between corporates and development organisations.
Companies will present their corporate social investment priorities and funding cycles, while non-governmental organisations and community organisations will pitch projects directly to potential funders.
The organisers also plan to establish Namibia’s first central CSI database to provide a national directory of corporates, NGOs and community organisations, with the aim of improving coordination and reducing duplication of development initiatives.
“Additionally, success means establishing the central Namibian CSI database website, adopting formal policy recommendations, and signing a collective pledge. The other day, Her Excellency the President made a passing note suggesting that if corporates operate here and refuse to invest in social development, perhaps we should mandate it by law. We don’t want to get to the point of forced compliance. We want this platform to show our leaders that we can come together voluntarily and collaborate effectively,” Ekandjo said.
Capricorn Group Brand and Corporate Affairs Executive and Capricorn Foundation Chief Executive Officer Marlize Horn described the initiative as the beginning of a national movement to reshape corporate social investment in Namibia.
“We really see this as the beginning of something big. It is the beginning of a purposeful national conversation about how organisations committed to corporate social investment can work together more effectively instead of operating in isolation,” she said.
Horn said no single organisation could address Namibia’s development challenges alone and called for closer collaboration between the private sector, government and civil society.
“Namibia is at a pivotal moment with enormous opportunities ahead. If we align our priorities with those of the government and work together, we can create meaningful and lasting change,” she said.
