President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibian companies to move beyond symbolic donations and use Corporate Social Investment (CSI) as a tool to address unemployment, poverty, skills shortages and other development challenges.
Speaking through National Planning Commission Director General Kaire Mbuende at the inaugural Namibia CSI Mukopano in Windhoek, Nandi-Ndaitwah said corporate investment should be measured by its long-term impact on communities rather than the size of donations or the publicity they generate.
“Corporate Namibia must ensure that CSI goes beyond symbolic contributions and becomes a meaningful driver of social and economic transformation,” she said.
The President said profitable and well-managed businesses remain critical to economic growth and employment creation, but companies also have a responsibility towards the communities that contribute to their success.
“CSI should not be viewed as a public relations exercise or simply a compliance requirement, but rather as a genuine investment in society,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She said effective corporate investment should improve education and healthcare, empower young people, strengthen families and create opportunities for communities to become more self-reliant.
Nandi-Ndaitwah called for CSI and Corporate Social Responsibility programmes to be aligned with Namibia’s broader development priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals, Vision 2030 and national development plans.
She also called for stronger partnerships between government, businesses and communities to expand economic and social opportunities, particularly in rural areas.
The President acknowledged existing private-sector investments but said companies should deepen their contribution to national development to ensure economic progress reaches more Namibians.
Speaking on behalf of the CSI Mukopano partners, MTC Chief Brand, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability Officer Tim Ekandjo said seven national priority areas had been identified for coordinated corporate investment.
These are youth employment and skills development, education and learner support, water, sanitation and basic services, health and social wellbeing, food security and agriculture, enterprise and local economic development, and infrastructure and connectivity.
“We have identified seven national CSI priority areas for greater impact,” Ekandjo said.
He said the initiative will now develop a national CSI Response Action Plan, identify priority projects, mobilise funding, expand corporate participation, implement projects and report annually on their impact.
The inaugural Namibia CSI Mukopano brings together government, the private sector, civil society, development partners and social impact organisations to coordinate corporate investment towards national development priorities.
The initiative is targeting challenges including income inequality, youth unemployment, skills mismatches, regional poverty, gender disparities, climate vulnerability and water scarcity.
