The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) will bring together pension funds, regulators and policymakers on 11 and 12 November 2026 to assess Namibia’s readiness to attract institutional capital and identify investment opportunities capable of delivering financial returns and supporting economic development.
The two-day Pension & Investment Symposium, scheduled for the Windhoek Country Club and Resort, will focus on regulatory conditions, governance, investment risks and the readiness of major projects to secure institutional funding.
Held under the theme “Investment Ready: Positioning Namibia for Institutional Capital”, the symposium aims to develop a common institutional position on the conditions required to unlock long-term investment in Namibia and the wider region.
GIPF Chief Executive Officer and Principal Officer Martin Inkumbi said the discussions would examine how policy, legislation and national development priorities could create an environment conducive to institutional investment.
“The symposium seeks to build a lasting understanding of market readiness, including how policy, legislation and development priorities can support investment for current and future generations,” Inkumbi said.
He said the fund was seeking practical outcomes that would enable institutional investors to assess opportunities against clearly defined standards while maintaining their fiduciary responsibilities.
“Central to the discussions is GIPF’s conviction that the right investments can deliver returns, create impact and build quality industries that generate jobs, advance development and improve socio-economic conditions in Namibia and the region,” he said.
According to GIPF, participating institutions will assess selected major Namibian projects to determine their readiness for institutional financing, identify investment gaps and establish what improvements are required before capital can be committed.
The assessments will not serve as investment pitches but will instead evaluate projects against a proposed readiness framework.
The symposium is expected to produce four outcomes, including a collectively developed Environmental Readiness Framework for evaluating investment opportunities, greater clarity on fiduciary obligations and development mandates, agreed standards for accepting or rejecting investment proposals, and a foundation for regional co-investment and capital pooling among pension funds.
Discussions will also examine the regulatory environment under the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA), with particular attention to conditions affecting institutional investment decisions.
Inkumbi said the initiative supports GIPF’s new strategic pillar on socio-economic impact and the Board of Trustees’ mandate to establish a practical approach to impact investing without compromising fiduciary standards.
The programme will draw on experiences from pension funds and development finance institutions across Africa, particularly the successes and challenges associated with deploying long-term capital into development projects.
Keynote speakers will include Trade and Development Bank Group President and Chief Executive Officer Admassu Tadesse and Rwanda Social Security Board Deputy Chief Executive Officer Michelle Umurungi.
Other speakers will include National Planning Commission Director General Dr Kaire Mbuende, Bank of Namibia Governor Ebson Uanguta and former Bank of Namibia Governor Dr Johannes !Gawaxab.
Participating institutions will include regional pension funds, the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA), the Bank of Namibia, the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission.
GIPF said the symposium was intended to move beyond discussions and produce a documented institutional position that could guide future investment decisions, strengthen market readiness and support collaboration between pension funds and other institutional investors.
