Rudolf Gaiseb
Namibia Development Trust (NDT) director Ronny Dempers urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to adopt innovative practices to survive the financial challenges.
“It is only when we are innovative enough that we will be able to sustain ourselves, provide for ourselves, and adequately respond to the development challenges and opportunities that come our way,” he said. Dempers was speaking last week in Windhoek during the commemoration of World NGO Day, which is usually celebrated on 27 February.
This year’s theme is ‘Empowering Grassroots Movements for a Sustainable Future’. It highlights how civil society plays a crucial role as the voice of the most vulnerable, contributing to a better tomorrow.
Earlier this year, the health ministry revealed that 120 inactive NGOs will face deregistration, unless they submit their annual reports.
Many NGOs face financial challenges. Dempers urged the Namibian government to support the NGOs through funding to lessen their dependency on international donors. He said the sector would significantly benefit from local resource mobilisation.
“The Namibian government does not care about NGOs apart from the rhetoric about partnership. However, NGOs need to make our case to demonstrate our value addition to society. This value-addition is what also motivates celebrations such as NGO Day because one single entity, irrespective of its great work, cannot be visible enough. But if we come together and demonstrate our collective action, I believe we shall become and remain a sector to be reckoned with,” he asserted. NDT and various partners will host World NGO Commemoration Day events from 25 March to 29 March 2025. These institutions include, but are not limited to, the Namibia Association of CBNRM Support Organisations, Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC), Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), Namibia Civil Society Non-State Actors Network and Orange River Karoo Conservation Area (ORKCA).
NNF spokesperson Sunnypo Imalwa said the partners will host an NGO Day youth connect on 25 March at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
“Young people are the heartbeat of change. Their active participation in civil society is critical for building a sustainable, inclusive and just future. This platform will educate and inspire young minds about the impactful work of NGOs and numerous career opportunities in this sector,” she said.
This will be followed by the Annual Civil Society Organisations Networking conference, scheduled for 27 March at Gateway Conference Centre. A breakfast meeting encompassing a strategic dialogue for a sustainable future is marked for 28 March. The celebrations will conclude with a fun walk at the community conservation inspiration hub on 29 March.