:: Urban Question in Namibia :: NUST Library Special Collections

NHAG Annual Report Final Amended

Namibia Housing Action
Group (NHAG)

Shack Dwellers Federation
of Namibia (SDFN)

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Publisher

Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG)

11 Mozart Street, Windhoek West, Windhoek

The consent of the publisher must be obtained for any further use

and duplication.

Pictures

Author

Anne Scharrenbroich and Hendrina Shuunyuni

Layout and Design

Young Achievers Trading CC

This publication has been funded by GIZ

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nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

Acknowledgement

Introduction

About SDFN & NHAG

Historical Timeline

COVID 19 Activities - Successes / Challenges/ Solutions

Community Savings

Women Empowerment

National Saving Report of June 2019

National Saving Report of June 2020

Twahangana Fund

Twahangana Fund and Covid-19 in Namibia

Poor Peoples Fund of the Twahangana Fund

Twahangana Fund since 1995

Total Income of Twahangana Fund - July 2019 to June 2020

Loans approved by Twahangana Fund - July 2019 to June 2020

Government Support through the Twahangana Fund

Number of Houses built by SDFN with government support

Community Land Information Program (CLIP) / Know Your City Campaign

Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI) / Know Your City

CLIP work by NHAG/SDFN: Helao Na‘di informal settlement upgrading

COVID-19 data collection

House Construction by SDFN

Cost e•ciency of Houses built by SDFN

History of House construction by saving groups and later SDFN

Securing Land

TABLE OF CONTENT

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Informal Settlement Upgrading

National Alliance for Informal Settlement Upgrading (Alliance)

COVID-19 response Unit by the Alliance

CLU(N_Z) Project

Informal Settlement Upgrading (Table)

Government support to Informal Settlement upgrading

Government support - Services installed since 2017 (Table)

Freedom Square - Informal Settlement Upgrading in Gobabis

SDFN Youth

COVID-19 Activities

Backyard Gardening

Cooperation with National Public Sector

Exchanges, Sharing, Learning by Doing

Local and International Exchange/Networking

House Opening Events

COVID-19 Strategy Meetings

Managing NHAG

Principles of NHAG/SDFN

NHAG Board

NHAG Income - July 2019 to June 2020

NHAG Expenses for Core Activities - July 2019 to June 2020

Acknowledgement

The activities of Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG) and the Shack

Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) were enabled through ‘nancial

support from various partners. This includes core funding from

MISEREOR (Germany) and Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI);

through their Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation support to a•liates.

NHAG/SDFN activities were also supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für

Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The Ministry of Urban and Rural

Development (MURD) ‘nanced house construction as well as informal

settlement upgrading through their contribution to the Twahangana

Fund.

There has been a further increase in private sector funding towards the

construction of new houses. The established and profound reputation

of NHAG and SDFN as well as strengthened acquisition has contributed

to this increase. In the period covered by this annual report the following

companies contributed not only to the construction of houses but also

assisted with technical- and capacity building: First National Bank of

Namibia, Pupkewitz Foundation, PE Minerals (through the O•ce of the

First Lady, Madame Monica Geingos), Beate Segbers and Juuriharja

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nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

Consulting from Finland. Signi‘cant contributions came from

MTC, Huawei and the community at large through Standard

Bank of Namibias Buy-a-Brick initiative.

We would also like to acknowledge the cooperation of ELOOLO

Permaculture Initiative, Nutrition and Food Security Alliance

of Namibia (NAFSAN), the Living Permaculture Project, and

Community Led Upgrading (Namibia_Zambia) (CLU(N_Z) in

implementing community-based projects and activities with

the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.

Under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),

Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)

supported NHAG and SDFN professionally and profoundly

through research and various technical and empirical

contributions.

In February 2020 Aranos Town Council signed a MoU with NHAG

and SDFN - another partnership for urban development.

Introduction

When COVID-19 reached Namibia in March 2020 the Namibian

government was facing the challenge of managing the outbreak of the

pandemic. Special attention was given to the informal settlements who

currently constitute 40% of the Namibian population and a calculated

80% of its urban population.

A State of emergency was subsequently declared in Namibia which

lasted until mid September 2020. During these six months different

restrictions/measures were implemented at different stages. These

included closure of schools, borders and non-essential businesses like

restaurants, retail, and even street vending and informal markets. Some

of these regulatory actions and travel bans were implemented nationally

and some regionally, depending on arising COVID-19 epicentres. Local

transmissions of COVID-19 were reported for the ‘rst time in May/June

2020 in Namibia and then spread to informal settlements throughout

Namibia.

In Namibia it was in particular SDFN, NHAG and the National Alliance for

Informal Settlement Upgrading (Alliance) that immediately responded

to the challenges of the pandemic in the informal settlements. Even

before COVID-19 even reached the informal settlements, SDFN and

NHAG were ready to respond. Profoundly rooted in their communities,

SDFN and NHAG immediately employed their skills and knowledge of

the situation on the ground to respond in informal settlements. In many

African Countries, including Namibia, o•cials lack su•cient data on

the current size and socio-economic pro‘le of informal settlements to

respond holistically and to implement important ad-hoc public health

and social measures to prevent and control a pandemic like the COVID-19

outbreak. The reach of formal governance structures is limited in these

areas. SDFN and NHAG reached out to the poor in informal settlements

all over Namibia before o•cial support arrived. Due to the good existing

relationships with authorities, SDFN and NHAG were able to cooperate

immediately and closely with central government, Ministry of Health and

local authorities to create awareness and implement measures, which

would contain the pandemic in informal settlements.

Urbanisation in Namibia

According to the 1991 Namibia Population and Housing

Census, 28% of the Namibian population lived in urban

areas at that time1. 28 years later - in 2019 - as much

as 51% of Namibians lived in urban areas2. As in many

African countries this rapid urbanization in Namibia

has contributed to informal growth and increasingly

inadequate living conditions. Current estimates show that

close to 1 million of the overall Namibian population of 2,5

million live in shacks. This represents more than 40% of

the entire population and 80% of the urban population of

Namibia.

Housing has become the
frontline defense against the
coronavirus. Home has rarely
been more of a life or death
situation.
Leilani Farha, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to

Adequate Housing, March 2020.

1. The Effect of Urbanisation on Housing Conditions in Namibia Nelago Indongo (PhD), University of Namibia
2. https://www.statista.com/statistics/455894/urbanization-in-namibi

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Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG)

The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN), is a community-

based network of housing saving schemes, aiming to improve the

living conditions of urban and rural poor. SDFN is an a•liate of Shack/

Slum Dwellers International (SDI).

Namibia Housing Action Group is a Non-Governmental Service

Organization, aiming to support and add value to the activities and

processes of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.

SDFN Vision & Mission

The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibias main focus is to improve

the living conditions of low-income people living in shacks, rented

rooms and those without any accommodation, while promoting

womens participation.

The federation facilitates and advocates for change for those

excluded from commercial housing and ‘nancial processes, using a

community-driven approach.

NHAG Vision & Mission

The Namibia Housing Action Group aims to support the Shack Dwellers

Federation of Namibia in achieving their mission. NHAG facilitates

and advocates for change in the livelihood of urban and rural poor by

securing affordable land and shelter and improving the living conditions

of those excluded from commercial housing and ‘nancial processes,

using a community-driven approach.

Current status, June 2020

SDFN is a Peoples Movement made out of 889 saving groups

(voluntary associations), involving 27,254 members, saving N$ 32,

160,606.22 and building 5,836 houses to date.

Current status, June 2020

NHAG has the legal status of a Trust with 10 full time employees

supporting the SDFN ‘nancially, technically, linking the community to

the formal sector and administering their Twahangana Fund.

SDFN Strategic Objectives

We commit ourselves as a civil society and community based

organization to:

Organize low-income communities through saving schemes

and build capacity of poor communities living in informal

settlements to drive their own development and access

resources.

Provide access to funds for the poor for income generation,

houses and services.

Promote bottom up inclusive participatory informal settlement

upgrading that will result in inclusive citywide plans.

Lobby for and obtain affordable land, infrastructure and

resources for the poor.

Improve the living environment of the poor by developing/

transferring skills for building houses and to raise awareness

of local/environmental sustainable building materials, and

resources.

Promoting womens participation and leadership due to years

of experience where women lead the vast majority of the SDFN

saving groups in a very professional manner.

Strengthen communities negotiation position by obtaining and

sharing information about the living conditions of the poor and

the activities of the groups through the program Community

Land Information Program (CLIP).

Create learning centres for best practices on informal

settlement upgrading processes.

NHAG Strategic Objectives

We commit ourselves as a Professional Service Organization to:

Facilitate the activities of the Shack Dwellers Federation of

Namibia (SDFN) by acting as the treasury for regional and national

activities, administering the Twahangana Fund and ensuring equal

distribution of resources.

Facilitate SDFN inputs on policies and legislation, assist the

SDFN with documentation/reporting and advise SDFN and groups

representatives.

Advocate for a transformation of Namibian urban policies, legal

frameworks, strategies and actions at the national, regional

and local levels to change the way that our towns and towns are

planned.

Promote local-national partnerships in which community, regional

and national stakeholders are strategic partners for improving

access to land.

Provide technical support to SDFN and community driven

settlement upgrading, service installation and house

construction.

Facilitate international exchanges.

Environmental issues and challenges are continuously taken

into account when lobbying local authorities or giving technical

support to SDFN.

About SDFN & NHAG

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nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

Historical Timeline

1987

1990

1992

1996

1998

2007

2015

2016

2018

2019

2012

Residents in overcrowded rental rooms and hidden backyard structures start organising savings groups in order to
improve their poor living conditions.

Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG) is founded to support the saving groups as an umbrella organisation.

Communities establish the Twahangana Fund, as a community-managed revolving fund of SDFN.

The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) is founded by 30 saving groups, which have operated since the
late eighties.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Standard Bank Namibia, SDFN and NHAG is signed.

The Community Land Information Clip Program (CLIP) is launched by SDFN/NHAG in partnership with informal
settlement communities, as well as local, regional and national government.

First Lady of Namibia, Monica Geingos becomes the patron of Shack Dwellers Federation Namibia.

Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and SDFN/NHAG sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Standard Bank launches its Buy-a-Brick initiative

Ohorongo Cement, Pupkewitz Foundation and FNB Foundation formalize their development partnership through a
formal agreement requiring each partner to put N$ 1 million in cash or kind, to support the activities of the Shack
Dwellers Federation of Namibia.

20 years of Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).

Association of Local Authority in Namibia (ALAN), SDFN and NHAG sign Memorandum of Understanding

SDI Community-Led Award: SDFN and NHAG through a partnership with NUST, local and central government and the
private sector, win this international award.

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nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

COVID 19 Activities
Successes / Challenges /
Solutions

SUCCESSES
SDFN and NHAG have built 5,836 houses overall until June

2020. Even though Namibia was under severe COVID-19 lock-

down measures for several months until September 2020 and

some businesses came to a complete standstill, the work of the

Federation continued. Construction of houses slowed down, but

SDFN with the technical support of NHAG managed (in accordance

with the regulation of the state of emergency) to continue building

houses during the pandemic. Between April and June 2020 124

houses were completed and 150 prepaid water meters were

installed.

With the support of SDI and other funders, SDFN networks were

immediately activated when the pandemic arrived in Namibia. One

of the ‘rst points-of-action was to set up Awareness-WhatsApp-

Groups to share veri‘ed information within the federation all over

the country. This way of communication has proven to be very

effective because federation members used their internal network

to spread information further to communities.

Due to the broad existing relationships and the good reputation

of SDFN and NHAG an immediate and close cooperation with

government, Ministry of Health and local authorities was

established to create awareness and implement measures.

Within the time of the pandemic 12 new SDFN savings groups were

established in various regions of Namibia. The reason for this is

that SDFN was very visible during the pandemic and awareness

for COVID 19 was not only raised within the SDFN community but

among communities at large.

A national Covid-19 survey in 28 areas of Namibia was conducted in

cooperation with several universities from abroad, NUST and the

National Alliance for Informal Settlement Upgrading. This survey

was conducted so that communities could give feedback on the

current situation, challenges faced, possible needs and solutions

etc. SDFN youth were trained to analyse digital data on tablets.

These tablets were funded by the GIZ.

The times of the pandemic opened up new opportunities

for bottom-up upgrading in informal settlements. 4

additional towns joined this process when restrictions

were lifted. Know your city/CLIP started again immediately

when people were allowed to move between regions. By

June 2020 SDFN and NHAG were constructing houses in

27 urban areas and doing informal settlement upgrading

in 26 urban areas in Namibia.

CHALLENGES
Because of the state of emergency regulations, street

vendors and open market sellers were removed from

streets and markets. They lost their whole income.

This directly affected the repayment of loans to the

Twahangana Fund and the savings of SDFN members.

Due to the regulations of lock-down/state of emergency

food insecurity and malnutrition increased dramatically

in the informal settlements. Livelihoods of many shack

dwellers were at risk.

A severe challenge was the shortage of water in the

informal settlements and overgrowing at the public water

taps in the informal settlements.

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SOLUTIONS
A survey among informal traders was conducted to

‘nd possible solutions. SDFN/NHAG together with the

National Alliance for Informal Settlement Upgrading

lobbied the government and relevant authorities to reopen

open markets and to allow street vendors to resume their

small businesses while the state of emergency continued.

SDFN and NHAG managed to get the small traders back on

the streets while NHAG and SDFN assisted the authorities

with the creation of awareness and implementation of ad-

hoc public health measures within these groups.

Through the COVID-19 survey SDFN and NHAG identi‘ed vulnerable

families struggling for food, water etc. These families were linked

to different COVID 19 response projects focusing on nutrition,

gardening and food security by NHAG, SDFN, the Nutrition and Food

Security Alliance of Namibia (NAFSAN), ELOOLO Permaculture

Initiative and other partners.

After the intervention of SDFN and NHAG government has directed

local authorities to provide free water to communities in informal

settlements. Through this engagement of SDFN and NHAG, local

authority opened water pipes. In informal settlements with no

water services, Standard Band and GIZ provided water tanks as

well as hand sanitizers.

24 SDFN members got trained by the Ministry of Health in order

to implement COVID-19 actions. One focus for example was to

help shelter homeless people; in Windhoek 560 homeless people

joined a workshop and received training on how to be safe during

COVID-19.

SDFN members, especially SDFN youth members, successfully

started several backyard gardens that now grow their own

vegetables. Several funders and partners supported this backyard

gardening initiative. Through example these gardens spread

quickly as a very feasible solution to overcome some of the

challenges of the pandemic. By June 2020 around 300 small back

yard gardens had been created. SDFN youth members are now

educating federation members and other community members on

backyard gardening.

NHAG/Living Permaculture project trained SDFN members and

initiated a community tippy tap challenge. These tippy taps

were installed in the informal settlement in front of individual

households.

NHAGs technical team is based in Windhoek and with

several travel bans in different regions it was not possible

or di•cult at certain times to travel to the regions. This

slowed down support for informal settlement upgrading,

especially to those that were in their initial phases.

Another factor is Namibias dependency on South Africa

to import building materials. Challenges were and still are

the shortage of some materials such as roof sheets and

steel.

Community saving is the cornerstone of SDFN in organizing communities

and the development of households participating in the SDFN saving

groups. Each group manages its own savings account. When there are

su•cient funds the group may put down a deposit on a piece of land.

The local authorities should provide the land, and in reality, this remains

the main obstacle. Payments for the provided land are made to the

respective local authorities over a ten-year period. The saved money can

also be used to meet basic and daily needs as well as to secure further

funding.

Every six months each SDFN group is visited by members of another

group for an audit of their saving books. These results are captured at

regional and national level and combined in the annual SDFN National

Saving Report.

Community participation has increased social capital and ownership

in communities. Communities are able to rely on each other for social

and economic needs, even in times of heavy economy slowdown. This

ownership and prospects for better future living conditions also reduces

crime in these communities.

Through more community exchanges and the new focus on informal

settlement upgrading, more groups are being established. Communities

have been mobilized in areas were land is made available by local

authorities. SDFN/NHAG continue to collaborate with communities

and local authorities and invite them to federation events such as brick

making and house openings for exposure.

Women Empowerment
The activities of NHAG and SDFN have a visible impact on women

empowerment in Namibia. Women largely and actively participate

in all federation activities, within all 14 regions of Namibia. The

processes of forming saving groups, engaging in community-

based land tenure and upscaling informal settlement upgrading,

have been mainly driven by women. In June 2020 of the 27,254

SDFN members 18,264 were women, which is more than a two-

thirds proportion. Women have been empowered through active

participation in SDFN, which has given them the opportunity to

break away from top-down leadership that had traditionally made

people apathetic.

Community Savings

Because of the lockdown in March/
April 2020 community members who
are selling at the streets and markets
lost their income. We fought for the
markets to be open again even though
lock down was still going on. The
Shack Dwellers helped authorities
to set up locations for cleaning and
sanitizing at the markets.

We, the Shack Dwellers of Namibia
have achieved so much by working
together, standing together in diŸcult
times and speaking up for ourselves.
Each of us is putting innumerable
hours of our free time, passion and
strength in this federation but look
at us: the Shack Dwellers of Namibia
are building more and more houses
each year. Even COVID-19 could not
stop us.

Edith Mbanga, National Facilitator of SDFN

Martha Kaulwa, National Facilitator of SDFN

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nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

National Saving Report of June 2019

REGION Groups Members Male Female Savings from the beginning (N$)

ERONGO 180 5540 1922 3618 4,497,094.05

HARDAP 28 788 175 613 312,096.28

KARAS 63 1769 415 1354 692,744.22

KAVANGO EAST 19 647 127 520 236,651.92

KAVANGO WEST 27 353 78 275 291,046.00

KHOMAS 152 7398 3297 4101 2,852,856.30

KUNENE 29 1393 385 1008 352,525.68

OHANGWENA 54 1111 237 874 1,508,664.20

OMAHEKE 43 1437 557 880 582,470.86

OMUSATI 41 870 43 827 1,643,334.80

OSHANA 57 981 143 838 2,156,889.99

OSHIKOTO 95 2285 628 1657 2,669,963.65

OTJOZONDJUPA 38 883 272 611 2,086,812.01

ZAMBEZI 25 663 122 541 499,864.47

OVERALL 851 26118 8401 17717 20,383,014.43

Total Savings (N$) including savings of 7
groups for land acquisition

31,300,026.17

REGION Groups Members Male Female Savings from the beginning (N$)

ERONGO 198 6267 2290 3977 4,320,191.75

HARDAP 31 1041 247 794 386,592.00

KARAS 64 2060 548 1512 686,795.42

KAVANGO EAST 42 1857 398 1459 825,735.40

KAVANGO WEST 14 484 185 299 322,884.00

KHOMAS 160 7719 3444 4275 3,757,477.30

KUNENE 8 296 75 221 784,506.21

OHANGWENA 58 1172 238 934 2,900,884.14

OMAHEKE 83 700 244 456 517,459.57

OMUSATI 35 913 160 753 1,893,911.40

OSHANA 56 1037 181 856 1,857,546.17

OSHIKOTO 73 1819 522 1297 2,048,682.62

OTJOZONDJUPA 38 951 287 664 896,045.77

ZAMBEZI 29 938 171 767 521,793.92

OVERALL 889 27,254 8,990 18,264 21,720,505.67

Total Savings (N$) including savings of 7
groups for land acquisition

32,160,606.22

National Saving Report of June 2020

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The lifeblood of the Shack Dwellers Federation movement is the

community savings that enable the groups to access funds from

the Twahangana Fund; a community managed revolving fund that

provides micro loans to the members of the SDFN saving groups for

land acquisition, servicing of land and the subsequent construction of

incremental housing. 89% of the Namibian population does not qualify

for conventional home loans and cannot access commercial housing.

This fund serves as a tool for the very poor to access ‘nancial support in

a way that is not supported by the o•cial banking instruments.

Twahangana Fund and Covid-19 in Namibia
When Namibia experienced its ‘rst lockdown in March 2020, due to

the arising pandemic, all open markets were closed and street vendors

were removed from the streets. SDFN immediately assisted it members

who lost income due to this lockdown regulations by reducing the

repayments to the Twahangana Fund. It was communicated in the same

month, that SDFN members &should pay what they can afford by the

end of March and end of April 2020, but not less than half of your monthly

repayment3. Furthermore no interest was charged for April and May

2020. This gave many members ‘nancial relief in the di•cult economic

times of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it also strengthened the continuity

of repayments even in di•clut times.

Poor Peoples Fund of the Twahangana Fund
The Poor Peoples Fund (PPF) is the contributions made by the members

of the SDFN towards the Twahangana fund to ensure its sustainability. In

2017 SDFN members were encouraged to contribute a one-off payment,

which could also be paid in instalments. In June 2020 Federation

members managed to contribute N$ 3,600,000 on a new and separate

account for the Poor Peoples Fund.

The Poor Peoples Fund should ‘rst and foremost sustain SDFN/NAHG

and their projects. It should remain an income generating reserve. The

federation decided that the fund would give out service loans to small

businesses to attract further funding and generate income.

6.05%

13,14%

9.93%

37.42%

33.46%

Twahangana Fund since 1995:
The Fund channelled N$ 231.52 million to the housing groups

for SDFN members to build houses, install services and improve

income.

Twahangana Fund

33.46%: SDFN repayments and Poor Peoples Fund
contribution.

37.42%: Government (MURD)

13.14%: Private Sector

9.93%: Donations/External Funders

6.05%: Build Together

Due to the transparent management of the Twahangana Fund

by the community themselves and the corresponding impact

they have been making on the ground, the SDFN has managed

to lure the First Lady of Namibia, Madame Monica Geingos, to

be their patron since 2015. The First Lady has also used her

in°uential position to further engage other stakeholders from

the private sector to channel ‘nancial resources to the SDFN.

In the last 20 years NHAG and SDFN have demonstrated

community-led capacity to manage donor and government

funds. This may be attributed to their years of experience and

robust management systems. The housing projects funded

by the government through the Ministry of Urban and Rural

Development (MURD) as well as private sector funds are being

channelled directly to the Twahangana Fund.

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3. Letter by NHAG Co-Director Heinrich Amushila to all SDFN saving groups from March 2020.

Twahangana Fund

Funder Amount

Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD)

Annual contribution:

Twahangana Fund received from MURD in January-June 2020

an additional budget, which was directly allocated for house

construction as well as services in different regions:

N$10,000,000.00

N$10,305,000.00

Buy-a-Brick Initiative by Standard Bank N$13,000,000.00

FNB, Pupkewitz Foundation N$ 1,950,000.00

PE Minerals through the O•ce of the First Lady N$ 400,000.00

SELAVIP (international funder for prepaid water meter) N$ 349,943.75

SDI (external funder) N$ 868,074.00

Bank Interest (Investment) N$ 422,110.33

Member repayments N$ 9,014,465.80

Total income - July 2019 to June 2020 N$ 46,309,593.90

Type of loan
Recipients by

Households
Amount

House loans 754 N$ 30 ,374,969.47

Small business loans 129 N$ 651,250.00

Service loans 1800 N$ 2 ,273,106.30

Total loans through Twahangana Fund July 2019 to June 2020 2683 N$ 33,299,325.77

Total loans through Twahangana Fund July 2018 to June 2019 1120 N$ 16,295,725

Loans approved by Twahangana Fund - July 2019 to June 2020

Total Income of Twahangana Fund - July 2019 to June 2020

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ibia (SD
FN

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A

nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

Government Support through the Twahangana Fund
Since Namibian independence in 1990 the Ministry of Urban and Rural

Development (MURD) provides support to the saving groups to construct

houses - SDFN was only founded in 1998. This was initially done through

the Build Together Program. At a federation event held on 1 July 1999,

the then Minister Hon. Nickey Iyambo pledged to the Shack Dwellers

Federation that for every Namibian Dollar saved the government will

provide N$ 2. SDFN received the ‘rst grant of N$ 1 million in June 2000.

Since then MURD provides an annual contribution, which was increased

in 2008 due to the fact that SDFN demonstrated its capacity to properly

manage the Twahangana Fund and managed their own construction

activities so successfully.

House construction support from the Government to the SDFN is

taking place through the Twahangana Fund. Expenditure on housing for

the poor and on upgrading informal settlements is viewed as a social

investment that has positive effects on health, education, and the sense

of being part of the nation.

In the ‘nancial year 2019/2020 the Namibian Government, through

MURD, contributed besides its annual contribution of N$ 10 million to

the Twahangana Fund in January-June 2020 an additional budget of

N$10,305,000.00 that was directly allocated for house construction

as well as informal settlement upgrading in different regions. With a

contribution of N$ 20, 305,000.00 in 2019/2020 it became the highest

ever contribution by the Namibian government to the Twahangana Fund.

Number of Houses built by SDFN with government
support

Financial
year

Number of houses
built

Ministry of Urban and
Rural Development

(MURD) In N$

2000/2001 66 1, 000, 000.00

2001/2002 No funding received

2002/2003 No funding received

2003/2004 91 1, 000, 000.00

2004/2005 114 1, 000, 000.00

2005/2006 72 1, 000, 000.00

2006/2007 91 1, 000, 000.00

2007/2008 62 1, 000, 000.00

2008/2009 59 1, 000, 000.00

2009/2010 60

2010/2011 136 3, 099, 000.00

2011/2012 125 3, 500 ,000.00

2012/2013 90 2, 500, 000.00

2013/2014 102 2 ,500, 000.00

2014/2015 134 3 ,530, 000.00

2015/2016 244 7, 530, 000.00

2016/2017 213 7, 000 ,000.00

2017/2018 204 7, 000, 000.00

2018/2019 421 15, 000, 000.00

2019/2020 244 8, 900, 000.00

2019/2020 90 3, 275, 000.00

Total 2618 71, 834, 000.00

Twahangana Fund

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Community Land
Information Program
(CLIP) / Know Your
City Campaign

4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slum_Dwellers_International
5 This abstract is taken from: https://knowyourcity.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SDI_StateofSlums_LOW_FINAL.pdf

The Community Land Information Program (CLIP) was launched in

2007 by SDFN and NHAG, in partnership with informal settlement

communities, as well as local, regional and national government. In

2016 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the

Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD), NHAG and the SDFN

to facilitate the program.

The aim of CLIP is to generate information on local level to identify

development needs and opportunities. Know Your City, the global

campaign of Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI), technically and

‘nancially supports the implementation of CLIP through SDFN/NHAG.

Around the world, slum dwellers collect citywide data and information on

informal settlements6. The CLIP program implies pro‘ling, enumeration

and mapping.

Generally, most informal settlements that are undergoing an upgrading

process have seen rapid expansion in size due to people speculating

on property rights and prices. NHAG together with the communities

initiated a stage referred to as the veri‘cation process, in which the

community, together with the local authority, compares data collected

through CLIP and existing structures on the ground to identify the

speculators. This has had a positive effect on the communication

between civil society and authorities in charge.

In 2008 the communities recorded 235 informal settlements

in Namibia with 135,000 shacks accommodating about

500,000 people through informal settlement pro‘ling. The

latest numbers from 2018 show that there are 308 informal

settlements with 228,000 shacks housing about 950,000

people in Namibia.

Data collection is the key to community-based improvement of

livelihoods in informal settlements. If Shack Dwellers - here in

Namibia or elsewhere - have data about their community and

informal settlement, they are able to create partnerships and

negotiate better with authorities, based on this information

around their needs for land and housing.

Since 1992 even before SDFN was founded - the collection of

data and information of informal settlements was practiced by

existing saving groups as one of their fundamental activities.

When the shack dwellers federated their existing saving groups

in 1998 and became the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia

(SDFN) one of their key activities became the collection of

information and mapping of informal settlements in addition

to savings, land negotiations, internal block servicing, and

incremental housing development.

6 https://knowyourcity.info/explore-our-data/

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A

nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI) / Know Your

City
Founded in 1996, Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI) is a

transnational network of the urban poor bringing together over a

million federated slum dwellers in 33 countries in Africa, Asia and

Latin America. The federations within SDI comprise thousands of

savings schemes networked at the settlement, city, and national

level to collectively drive a bottom-up change agenda for inclusive

and resilient cities6. Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia is a SDI

member.

SDI distributes community-generated data on cities and slums

through the Know Your City campaign, which is run in association

with United Cities and Local Governments and Cities Alliance. Know

Your City is a global campaign for participatory, pro-poor, people-

centered urban governance. Know Your City unites organized

slum dwellers and local governments in partnerships anchored by

community-led slum pro‘ling, enumeration, and mapping5. Know

Your City TV is a project of the City Alliance Joint Work Program for

Habitat III. It is a virtual studio, a hub for collaboration around media

and ‘lm projects related to urban and cities themes.

Community Land
Information Program
(CLIP) / Know Your City
Campaign

CLIP work by NHAG/SDFN: Helao Na©di informal

settlement upgrading
Helao Na‘di is a town in Ohangwena Region in northern Namibia

at the border to Angola. There are 6 informal settlements in

Helao Na‘di with 3000 Households and a population of 5822

(CLIP pro‘les from 2014). The so-called 17 Location informal

settlement is part of the 6 informal settlements, all being

upgraded by NHAG and SDFN in partnership with the Alliance,

Town Council and community.

The 17 Location settlements comprises 496 households.

From November 2019 onwards the CLIP team and various

stakeholders of the informal settlement upgrading process in

Helao Na‘di met and discussed the surveying and re-blocking

of plots in the 17 Location informal settlement. The service

layout plans and a Bill of Quantities (BoQ) was prepared by

Council technical o•cials and approved by Council. The

informal settlement was demarcated but only 310 of the 496

households were incorporated into the approved layout since

several plots were affected by °ood areas and necessary street

access.

The NHAG CLIP team arranged several meetings to prepare

the community in small groups for the land survey and re-

blocking process. The settlement was demarcated into blocks

so that the community could understand which plots would be

affected by °ooding areas and the construction of necessary

access streets. NHAG and SDFN negotiated with Helao Na‘di

Town Council for several months for an undeveloped site to

host the remaining households - a so-called Green‘eld site. In

June 2020 the Council allocated this land to the community - a block of

land that could accommodate 186 households. An amount of N$ 1 million

was allocated from MURDs contribution to SDFNs Twahangana fund for

the installation of water pipes to both areas (Phase one). This Phase is

expected to complete its services installation by end September 2020.

The 17 Location informal settlement, home to 496 shacks. After upgrading

only 310 plots avaiable (1 Plot=1 House)

Green‹eld Development for 186 households

COVID-19 data collection
Until June 2020 the CLIP Team from SDFN/NHAG and the COVID-19
Response Team from the Alliance completed a COVID-19 data collection
in 30 urban areas7 all over Namibia. The team was initially supported
virtually by SDI/Know Your City TV (KYCTV) campaign and eventually
in person when it was permitted again with stakeholders. Video
impressions were collected on the impacts of Covid19 on shack dwellers
in Divundu, Rundu, Helao Na‘di, Rupara and Karibib. Survey activities
and ‘ndings were viewed, shared and analysed with University of Cape
Town (UCT), York University in England and NUST after the period of this
annual report.

7. Rundu, Divundu, Walvis Bay, Henties Bay, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Oniipa, Tsumeb, Outjo, Khorixas, Karibib, Khomas, Windhoek, Dordabis, Gobabis, Otjinene, Helao Na©di,
Eenhana, Okahao, Ruacana,Rehoboth, Otavi, Otjiwarongo, Mariental, Nkurenkuru, Rupara, Katima Mulilo, Bukalo, Ondangwa, Oshakati.

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G

) and Shack D
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nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

House construction
by SDFN

By June 2020 the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) and

Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG) drive the self-help construction

of affordable housing units in 27 urban areas of Namibia and conduct

informal settlement upgrading in 26 towns in Namibia. By June 2020

SDFN and NHAG have built 5836 houses in total for its federation

members.

Federation members themselves manage the construction of houses.

House loan applicants apply to their SDFN saving group for a loan. The

group members approve initial loans and regional loan teams do the

‘nal checks on the applications. Loan application forms are sent to the

NHAG O•ce in Windhoek, accompanied with quotations from building

materials suppliers.

NHAG further scrutinizes the application and veri‘es if the loan amount

requested is adequate to complete the house. Once all loan procedures

have been completed, payments are made to building materials suppliers

and delivered to members. No cash payment goes to individuals. All

loans are managed through the Twahangana Fund.

Constructions of houses and informal settlement

upgrading have to overcome various challenges. The

rough climate in Namibia is often one such factor.

In June 2020 strong wind damaged bricks made

by SDFN members and covered them with sand at

Oranjemund.

The saving groups select building teams - normally not more

than 5 members. The building team manages the construction

of houses by making sure that building materials are delivered

to owners and recorded. They are the link between builders

and members and ensure the construction process is properly

managed. All building teams are trained beforehand by NHAG

and through learning exchanges.

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Cost e«ciency of Houses built by SDFN
Community-based housing approaches signi‘cantly reduce

the overall costs of the housing units. The use of pro‘t-driven

private contractors unnecessarily escalates costs to be borne

by individuals. Savings made through bulk purchase and

negotiation of material costs trickle down to the bene‘ciaries.

Costs are further reduced through labour provided by

bene‘ciaries in making their own bricks, surveying their own

land, digging their trenches for laying water and sewer pipes

etc. Members usually build two room houses, comprising 34 m2

at a cost of N$ 1,060 per square meter. These houses cost less

than N$ 40,000 each.

SDFN members install their own water and sewer services

when they receive parcels of land. Cement brick or blockhouses

include one bedroom, a kitchen/living room, and a bathroom,

which includes a toilet and shower. Plot sizes vary from 150

to 300 m2, giving space to double the size of the house when

needs or funds increase.

The installation of services, speci‘cally water and sewer

connections have reduced health risks in communities. The re-

blocked areas have better accessibility, which makes it easier

for local authorities to provide emergency services. The spread

of ‘res due to structures being in close proximity has also been

reduced.

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A

nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

History of House construction by saving groups
and later SDFN

Financial Year:
July to June

No of houses
constructed Saving groups or SDFN

1990/91 0 Saving groups

1991/92 0 Saving groups

1992/93 17 Saving groups

1993/94 21 Saving groups

1994/95 11 Saving groups

1995/96 15 Saving groups

1996/97 38 Saving groups

1997/98 11 SDFN was founded in 1998

1998/99 0 SDFN

1999/00 108 SDFN

2000/01 100 SDFN

2001/02 90 SDFN

2002/03 76 SDFN

2003/04 177 SDFN

2004/05 114 SDFN

2005/06 228 SDFN

2006/07 231 SDFN

2007/08 329 SDFN

2008/09 229 SDFN

2009/10 376 SDFN

2010/11 352 SDFN

2011/12 288 SDFN

2012/13 390 SDFN

2013/14 268 SDFN

2014/15 203 SDFN

2015/16 244 SDFN

2016/17 362 SDFN

2017/18 395 SDFN

2018/19 409 SDFN

2019/20 754 SDFN

Until June 2020 5836

House construction
by SDFN

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Securing Land
At total of 914 new households obtained land during this

reporting period. Tenure has improved in the last year but it is

still a major obstacle.

Urban areas No. of plots

Gobabis 77

Swakomund 32

Oshikuku 38

Opuwo 350

Rupara 100

Divundu 91

Epukiro 30

Tsumkwe 10

Helao Na‘di (green‘eld) 186

Total 914

COVID-19 affects us all but especially
those living in overcrowded areas.
Therefore the Federation continued
in these diŸcult times of COVID-19
building houses to ease the burden
of homelessness. 754 house were
completed between July 2019 and
June 2020, many of them even during
the times of lockdown. The Ministry
of Urban and Rural Development and
the Buy-a-Brick Initiative increased
funding and made it possible that
we built the most houses ever this
©nancial year. But this also means that
the capacity of federation members
to manage their housing projects is
increasing!
Heinrich Amushila, Co-Director of NHAG

N
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A
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) and Shack D
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nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

Informal Settlement
Upgrading

Upgrading is commonly understood as measures to improve the quality

of already existing shacks/housing, which are usually located on land

that is occupied illegally and the land-use patterns and buildings do

not conform to o•cial norms and regulations8. Informal settlement

upgrading includes provision of housing-related infrastructure and

services to the settlements.

Informal settlements in Namibia vary considerably in size, structure

and composition, depending on the surroundings and enviroment of the

respective region. Shack houses vary in size, are made of a variety of

materials, and present multiple problems, such as health risks, °ooding,

‘res, safety and structural stability. SDFN and NHAG are addressing

some of these issues in close collaboration with communities through

upgrading existing facilities and proposing potentially new interventions.

This process is known as re-blocking, in which communities obtain

safer, better-built, standardized homes, personal toilets, access roads

and usually electricity.

In general but also in Namibia, the scope of the upgrading varies from

some minor improvements like shack isolation, installation of communal

water taps and access roads to comprehensive improvements to

the housing, installation of piped water and sewage for each house

and communal services like schools and health care centers. This

comprehensive upgrading also includes the provision of legal tenure of

the land to the occupants.

SDFN and NHAG only engage in such comprehensive informal upgrading

through a holistic, bottom-up, community-based approach. Therefore,

all houses constructed by SDFN and NHAG have amongst many other

things toilets, shower, sewage system and legal tenure. This whole

concept of informal settlement upgrading in Namibia implies increasing

support by the Namibian government that the settlement to be

upgraded is legitimate and that the inhabitants have a right to live there.

The current informal settlement upgrading initiatives by SDFN/NHAG,

in collaboration with the Alliance and municipal authorities include

important lessons. The bottom-up approach through which SDFN/

NHAG ‘nance and realize their projects could be particularly instructive

for others in learning how to comprehensively involve communities,

authorities and other stakeholders.

National Alliance for Informal Settlement

Upgrading (Alliance)
NHAG is a founding member of the National Alliance for

Informal Settlement Upgrading (Alliance), which was launched

by Madame Monica Geingos, First Lady of the Republic of

Namibia, in February 2020. The National Alliance for Informal

Settlement Upgrading is a partnership approach to scaling

up security of tenure and housing opportunities through co-

production between organised communities, local and regional

authorities, central government, and universities9.

The Alliance aims to expand their efforts nation-wide and in its

concept note from September 2019 states its vision to improve

the tenure security, services and living conditions in informal

settlements and prevent future informal settlement growth in

Namibia by 2030 10.

Namibia National Housing Policy, reviewed in July 2009 11

The Government, in partnership with other role players,

is committed to upgrade 75% of the informal settlements

to formal townships by the year 2030. The attainment of

this goal requires the mobilization of public, private and

community resources and energy within the context of

public, private and people partnership.

Alliance partners include a wide range of stakeholders: NHAG,

SDFN, community bodies, ministries, local authorities, NGOs,

academic institutions, professional bodies, private sector and

international partners. For Phase 1 (2019-2020) the Alliance

was aimed at strategy formulation through implementation of

informal settlement upgrading and Green‘eld development in

all regions as well as curriculum building. Due to the COVID-19

pandemic in Namibia in 2020 implementation of this ‘rst phase

had to be partially adapted.

For further information please contact:

nationalalliance@nust.na

8 David Satterthwaith, Upgrading Informal Selltements, December 2012, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288162949_Upgrading_Informal_Settlements
9 http://ilmi.nust.na/national-alliance
10 http://ilmi.nust.na/sites/default/©les/National-Alliance-for-Informal-Settlement-Upgrading-DRAFT-3.pdf
11 https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Housing/sub-nationalgovernments/201114_Response_Namibia2.pdf

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COVID-19 Response Unit by the Alliance
From March 2020 until May 2020 plenty of responses

concerning the COVID-19 pandemic took place, as preparatory

measures by various stakeholders. At that time the effects

of the virus in informal settlements in Namibia were yet to be

seen. The pandemic made it very obvious that local responses,

grounded in communities and their skill and knowledge of

the situation on the ground, were the best way to respond in

conditions where o•cial responses were likely to fall short due

to structural factors12.

As of May 2020, before COVID-19 reached informal settlements

in Namibia, the National Alliance for Informal Settlements

Upgrading (Alliance) had developed a COVID-19 Strategy13 and

formed a COVID-19 Response Unit. The overall goal of this

COVID-19 Response Unit is to identify conditions, constraints

and opportunities, through establishing a distributing network

between stakeholders involved in informal settlement

upgrading: informal settlement communities, local and

central government, and other relevant partners. The Unit is

based at the Namibia University of Science and Technology

(NUST). Activities/implementation of this Unit started after the

reporting period of this annual report.

CLU(N_Z) Project
CLU(N_Z) stands for Community Led Upgrading (Namibia_Zambia)

and brings together Namibian and Zambian academics (from various

‘elds, including architecture and spatial production, housing, town

planning, and urban development), NHAG, SDFN, Peoples Processes for

Poverty and Housing from Zambia and various community members.

The research project investigates tools and techniques for participatory

engagement as well as transdisciplinary approaches to community led

informal settlement upgrading. Using the example of Dordabis: Dordabis

was selected to be a one of ‘ve study areas in the CLU(N_Z) research

project together with NUST. In June 2019 the research team went

to Dordabis to facilitate, together with SDFN youth, an Urban Dream

Workshop where the community used different tools such as mapping,

art and spoken word to explore the realities of their settlement as well

as planning for what they would want for their settlement in the future.

12 https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/©les/2020/05/iasc_interim_guidance_on_public_health_measures_for_covid-19_in_low_capacity_and_humanitarian_
settings_©nal_.pdf
13 http://nationalalliance.nust.na/sites/default/©les/2020-04/National-Alliance-COVID-19-Strategy.pdf.

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A

nnual Report July July 2019 June 2020

Informal Settlement Upgrading Initiatives: Communities with NHAG, SDFN, NUST and Local Authorities

Year
process
started

Region Town Settlement
From layout

to Residential
plots

Relocation
No of

Households

Household
Numbers

Population
Average No

of people per
household

2016
ERONGO

Karibib Usab 675 623 1764 2.8

2019 Henties Bay !Goas 228 216 444 1332 3

2016 OSHIKOTO Tsumeb Kuvukiland 1678 2368 9472 4

2019 KUNENE Outjo Ehangano 675 496 1688 3.4

2016/2020 OHANGWENA Helao Na‘di
17 Location +

Green‘eld
661 (overall)

496 (occupied)
186 586 1556 2.7

2019

HARDAP

Mariental Donkerhoek 134 670 5

2019
Donkerhoek

own risk
446 1033 3

2019 Ombilli 458 1832 3

2019
Oshiwana
penduka

373 987 4

2019 Ombili Own Risk 637 1274 2

2019 Takarania 298 1101 4

2019
Takarania Own

Risk
346 1038 3

2019
OKAVANGO WEST

Rundu Ngwangwa 83 488 5.9

2019 Rundu Sikanduko 2049 10245 5

2020 OTJOZONDJUPA Otjiwarongo Eie-Risiko 1044 4176 4

2018

OMAHEKE

Otjinene Ozohambo 624 1248 2

2012 Gobabis Freedom Square 1088 1088 3072 3

2017 Gobabis Tuerµandjera 431 1724 4

2014 Gobabis Kanaan A+B 514 1542 3

2014 Gobabis Kanaan C 1460 4380 3

2018 KHOMAS Dordabis Dordabis 228 838 3.6

9 Regions
10 URBAN

AREAS

26
INFORMAL

SETTLEMENTS
5,005 402 14,730 51,460 3.5

Informal Settlement
Upgrading

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Government support to Informal Settlement upgrading
The overall ‘nancial support from the Namibian Government/Ministry

of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) to the Twahangana Fund for

house construction and informal settlement upgrading has increased

within the last years. With a contribution of N$ 20,305,000.00 in the

‘nancial year 2019/2020 it was the highest support by the Namibian

government to the Twahangana Fund so far. Financial or technical

support for informal settlements upgrading is conventionally channelled

through local authorities.

Informal Settlement upgrading in Karibib-Usab

The partnership between
the Shack Dwellers
Federation and the Namibia
Housing Action Group
has become a well known
example of bottom up urban
development. Just consider
the work of NHAG and SDFN
in informal settlement
upgrading in Gobabis: it
may well be one of the most
studied cases in Namibias
recent urban development.
Namibian authorities
recognize more and more that
community based housing
approaches cost-effectively
improve the livelihood in the
informal settlements.
Dr Anna Muller Co-Director of NHAG

Government support - Informal Settlement Upgrading

Services installed since 2017

Services: Budget for informal settlement

Number of households Amount in N$

2017-2019 Gobabis 1088 10, 000, 000.00

2019/2020 Karibib 700 5, 000, 000.00

2019/2020 Helao Na‘di (186 households on a Green‘eld, 310

households in informal settlement upgrading)

496 1, 000, 000.00

2019/2020 Walvis bay 68 1, 000, 000.00

Total 2352 17, 000, 000.00

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Freedom Square - Informal Settlement Upgrading in

Gobabis Update from June 2020
The community of the Freedom Square settlement comprises 4,173

inhabitants on a 60-hectare site14 which is situated north of Gobabis.

In July 2012 the community, through the Community Land Information

Program (CLIP), obtained data about enumeration and mapping to

express their anger and frustration at proposed relocation by the

municipality.

Subsequently SDFN and NHAG engaged with all stakeholders involved

and promoted the community-lead, bottom-up approach of an informal

settlement upgrading process at Freedom Square. NHAG and SDFN

with the Gobabis Municipality successfully approached the government

to support the Freedom Square Upgrading Project ‘nancially as a pilot

project. In Freedom Square, the re-blocking plan meant that most had to

move from their original positions but that all would be accommodated

on the site.

Freedom Square successfully paved the way through on-site learning-

while-doing for the upscaling of informal settlement upgrading

throughout Namibia. Currently SDFN and NHAG are facilitating

upgrading in 26 informal settlements in Namibia.

A meeting between Gobabis Municipality, SDFN, NHAG and

community representatives took place on 9th March 2020

to review the upgrading process/progress and to determine

the way forward and where improvements are needed. All

stakeholders were pleased to have the chance to take stock of

achievements and challenges, to discuss the best way forward

and to draw from lessons-learnt. A positive example is that a

team of students from NUST and the Katutura College of the

Arts approached the Gobabis Municipality with assistance from

NHAG and international cooperation to develop and improve the

settlements public open spaces. The project was participatory

in its design and construction, with the municipality providing

technical and logistical assistance.

Gobabis Municipality so far handed over certi‘cates of land

hold titles to 1088 households through Flexible Land Tenures.

More than 212 households now have pre-paid water meters -

prior to upgrading there were only 3 communal water taps. In

the end of June 2020 the sewer system was tested by Gobabis

municipality and the NHAG technical team, to make sure that

the system was functional before handing it over to the Gobabis

municipality. The Council approved the construction of houses

to start in Freedom Square and building work was started in

June 2020.

The Gobabis municipality was so pleased with the pilot project

at Freedom Square that o•cials are planning the continuation

of this upgrading at other informal settlements.

Services layout of Freedom Square

Construction of concrete signs for gate valves and ‹re hydrants is also
done by SDFN/NHAG

14. Co-producing land for housing through informal settlement upgrading- lessons from a Namibian municipality (March 2020) by Guillermo Delgado, Anna Muller, Royal
Mabakeng and Martin Namupala

Informal Settlement
Upgrading

Gobabis Municipality is planning the handover of land hold
title certificates to 1088 households through Flexible Land
Tenures. The Council approved the construction of houses to
start in Freedom Square and building work was started in
June 2020.

The Gobabis municipality was so pleased with the pilot
project at Freedom Square that officials are planning the
continuation of this upgrading at other informal settlements.

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SDFN Youth

Namibia has one of the youngest and fastest-growing

populations in southern Africa. In 2018 the median age in

Namibia was 21.3 years. The youth unemployment rate in

Namibia continues to increase and reached an all-time high of

46.10% in 2018. Youth empowerment in Namibia is thus crucial

for sustainable development of the country.

SDFN Youth has overall more than 43 000 members and they

have saved up to N$ 60,000 for land. The youth is particularly

involved in the Community Land Information Program (CLIP)

and Know you City TV to collect data and video footage towards

scaling up informal settlement upgrading.

They are very active and visible in fundraising activities, to

sustain themselves as youth organization within SDFN, to pay

tuition fees and to do youth projects. Currently SDFN Youth is

active in the regions of Khomas, Omaheke, Erongo, Karas and

Kavango East.

COVID-19 Activities
SDFN Youth was especially active in various previously mentioned COVID

activities. SDFN youth has a well-established information network that

could e•ciently spread veri‘ed information, guidelines and activities

from the onset of the pandemic. The youth also reached out to other

community members for which they received lots of positive feedback.

In June/July 2020 the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of

Namibia (NAFSAN)15, ELOOLO Permaculture Initiative16 and the Living

Permaculture project17, with input from SDFN youth, facilitated the

training of community members on nutrition and back yard gardening.

Aside from many SDFN members losing their jobs due to COVID-19, it

is often di•cult for members of the informal settlement community to

afford a healthy diet. The purpose of this training and workshops was

to talk about the importance of nutrition and to increase backyards

gardens in the communities. SDFN Youth members took the lead

in these activities and became trainers for nutrition and back yard

gardening.

Backyard Gardening
A backyard garden refers to a small portion of land that one can use to

grow fruits and vegetables within a limited space. Backyard gardening

introduces the idea to shack dwellers that they can use their limited

space were they live to start small fruit and vegetable gardens.

The Shack Dwellers Federation
used the diŸcult situation of
the COVID-19 pandemic as an
opportunity to talk and listen
to communities in informal
settlements in order to ©nd out
what they need, want and propose.
And we did not only talk to our
SDFN members but to everybody.
Thats why 12 new SDFN savings
groups were established during
COVID-19.

Tresia Shikongo, SDFN Youth Facilitator in

Windhoek City

15 http://www.nafsan.org
16 https://www.eloolopermaculture.com
17 https://livingpermacultureproject.wordpress.com

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There is an increased interest under local authorities to

collaborate with communities organised by SDFN and

supported by NHAG. The increasing emphasis on peoples

housing solutions in Namibia has contributed to the growing

acknowledgement of local initiatives and innovations led by

organizations like the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia

and the Namibia Housing Action Group. A Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) was signed between SDFN, NHAG and

Aranos Town Council, o•ciated by Hon. Derek Klazen, Deputy

Minister of Urban and Rural Development in February 2020.

Cooperation with
National Public Sector

The National Government increasingly recognizes and articulates that

bottom-up approaches are crucial in addressing the urban land- and

housing crisis. This o•cial recognition resulted in an eagerness of

local authorities towards upscaling the informal settlement upgrading

process and various local authorities have started to appreciate the

bene‘ts, and cost-e•ciency, of participatory planning as opposed to a

top down approach to planning.

NHAG and SDFN have served in their long history on various high-level

committees such as National Habitat committee, National Housing

Advisory Committee, Mass Housing Committee on Blueprint and have

attended international conferences such the UN-HABITAT and others

through funding by the MURD. Honourable Ministers are also invited to

o•cially hand over houses to federation members during events.

Fewer and fewer authorities remain reluctant to support this

community-led approach. Despite the invaluable political shift the

recognition of informal settlement upgrading processes has brought

about, authorities often remain complacent and treat SDFN/NHAG as

an outsider/consultants rather than an active partner. But one of many

noteworthy, positive examples of successful cooperation between the

national public sector and SDFN/NHAG took place in December 2019

when the Usab Informal Settlement Upgrading Committee in Karibib

received a certi‘cate of appreciation from the Karibib Town Council.

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Exchanges, Sharing,
Learning by Doing

House Opening Events

House Opening of 46 Federation Houses at Otiwarongo by former
Minister of Urban and Rural development, Peya Mushelenga,
December 2019

House opening of Federation houses in Onawa (Oshakati) by Prime
Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, March 2020

House opening in Helao Na‹di by Deputy Minister of Urban and
Rural Development, Dereck Klazen, August 2019

Local and International Exchange/Networking
Mobilising new savings groups, exchanging knowledge on best practices

and lessons learnt - related to various topics from construction

methods and service installation to bookkeeping - are the main and

ongoing activities of the Federations saving groups with invaluable

administrative and technical support from NHAG.

In the period of this annual report numerous learning activities took

place on a local level. Exchange of knowledge in workshops, with

different national stakeholders, local training and day-to-day peer-

learning processes have increased SDFN and NHAGs capacity to

approach obstacles and different situations encountered in projects.

The following is a selection of prominent local and international events

that took place during the period covered by this report. It has to taken

into account that many meetings, especially international and regional

ones, were cancelled from March 2020 onwards due the state of

emergency, travel bans, assembly bans and limited access of federation

members to internet. Others were held virtually, like the SDI board

meeting in March and SDI Network meeting in May.

Brie‹ng meeting with //Kharas Governor and Heinrich Amushila,
NHAG in June 2020

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German Federal Minister for Development met

SDFN/SDFN Youth
German Federal Minister for Development Dr. Gerd Müller

visited SDFN projects in the informal settlements of Windhoek

in September 2019. He met several stakeholders to learn about

the current situation, ongoing projects and challenges. Tresia

Shikongo, SDFN Youth facilitators in Windhoek City, guided the

Minister around and provided him with detailed and current

‘rst-hand information.

German Federal Minister for Development Dr. Gerd Müller with SDFN
Youth Facilitator Tresia Shikongo (middle)

COVID-19 Strategy meetings
SDI, South Africa set up a virtual meeting with Namibia, Botswana and

Zimbabwe Federation in April 2020 to share strategies on COVID-19. SDFN and

NHAG implemented several ad-hoc measures with the support of SDI and other

funders like the distribution of hand-sanitizer, water tanks and tippy-taps. SDFN

Youth did a tippy tap challenge to teach community members how to do their

own tippy tap.

Exchanges, Sharing,
Learning by Doing

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Managing NHAG

NHAG has the legal status of a trust with 10 full time employees supporting SDFN ‹nancially, technically, through
linking the community to the formal sector and administering the Twahangana Fund.

In February 2020 NHAG staff went on a staff retreat in Gobabis

for two days, which was moderated by the board member, Mr.

Nathanael Araseb. The main purpose of this staff retreat was

organisational development of NHAG, to refresh and build a

vibrant NHAG team, supporting the work of the Federation

and to clarify the mandate/role of all employees, including

management. In a follow-up workshop in Windhoek in March

2020 clear action points were formulated, such as the

improvement of external communication.

NHAG launched a new website, after the reporting time

of this annual report in November 2020: https://www.

shackdwellersnamibia.com

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NHAG is managed by a Board of Trustees.

The current NHAG Trustees are:

Chairperson: Mr Danie Botha

NHAG Co-Director, Exco O«ce: Dr Anna Muller

NHAG Co-Director, Exco O«ce: Mr Heinrich Amushila

Board Member: Mr Erastus Amakali

Board Member: Mr Nathanael Araseb

Board Member: Hon. Maureen Margreth Hinda, MP, Namibias

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration

Board Member: Mr Onni-Ndangi lithete

Board Member: Ms Naomi Simion

Board Member: Mr Onesimus Nekondo

Principles of NHAG and SDFN:
Low-income communities have capacities and they use these

to empower themselves to participate in and manage their own

development, starting with their own money and knowledge.

Women take a central role in organizing and leading the organization

on local, regional and national level.

Inclusivity in practices: One principle followed is to reach the

very poor. The organizing tool is around small regular savings and

regular meetings, instead of ‘xed amounts.

Inclusivity in informal settlement and other community-led

upgrading initiative including both federated and non-federated

saving groups and non-savers in informal settlements.

Ongoing engagement of the government and other stakeholders to

support community initiatives and building partnerships to reach

inclusive urban development

Board Member
Mr. Erastus Amakali

Board Member
Mr. Onni-Ndangi lithete

NHAG Co-Director, Exco OŸce
Dr. Anna Muller

Board Member
Mr. Nathanael Araseb

Board Member
Ms. Naomi Simion

NHAG Co-Director, Exco OŸce
Mr. Heinrich Amushila

Board Member
Hon. Maureen Margreth Hinda,

MP, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
and Immigration

Board Member
Onesimus Nekondo

Chairperson
Mr. Danie Botha

Managing NHAG

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NHAG Income
July 2019 to June 2020

NHAG Expenses for Core Activities
July 2019 to June 2020

Overall Budget:

Total Expenses of Core
Activities:

Federation Support Activities

N$ 5,391,155.90

Admin/Management

N$ 625,294.32

NHAG Facilitations

N$ 2,788,508.39

N$ 9,644,238.77

N$ 8,804,958.61

Private Sector/Donations
N$ 1,226,478.22

Admin/Management
N$ 625,294.32

Twahangana Fund18
N$ 3,504,232.25

NHAG Facilitations
N$ 2,788,508.39

SDI
N$ 882,180.00

GIZ
N$ 397,980.00

Misereor
N$ 3,633,368.30

Federation Support
Activities
N$ 5,391,155.90

18 Including local contribution to co-funded projects.

Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG)
PO BOX: 21010

11 Mozart Street, Windhoek West

Windhoek, Namibia.

Tel: +264 61 239 398

Fax: +264 61 239 397