Adolf Kaure
The Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia (RFIN) and the Batseta Council of Retirement Funds for South Africa (Batseta) formally signed an agreement during a signing ceremony held last Friday in Windhoek.
The signing ceremony was attended by principal officers, trustees and key industry stakeholders.
The signing of the agreement marked a significant step forward in advancing trustee and principal officer training across Namibia’s retirement fund industry.
The agreement established a structured collaboration between the two industry bodies to enhance skills, strengthen governance and improve long-term retirement outcomes through targeted, scalable training programmes.
Under the terms of the agreement, Batseta will provide a comprehensive suite of training services, including foundational trustee education, advanced masterclasses for principal officers and bespoke board-level training.
The partnership will also see the joint development of a Namibian Trustees Toolkit, alongside specialised modules covering key emerging areas such as ESG and cybersecurity.
RFIN will play a central role in coordinating industry participation, identifying training needs and facilitating engagement with trustees, principal officers and broader stakeholders across Namibia.
The agreement further grants RFIN exclusive rights to promote and administer the agreed training programmes within the country for the duration of the partnership.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Batseta CEO Anne- Marie D’Alton said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the retirement fund ecosystem through education and capacity building.
“By working closely with RFIN, we are able to extend our training expertise into Namibia in a way that is both locally relevant and globally informed, ultimately supporting better governance and improved outcomes for members,” said D’Alton.
According to RFIN chairperson, Klaus Laborn, the signing of the agreement marks an important milestone for the Namibian retirement fund industry.
“By partnering with Batseta, we are equipping our trustees and principal officers with the tools, knowledge and frameworks required to navigate an increasingly complex environment and to fulfil their fiduciary responsibilities with confidence,” Laborn stated.
The collaboration is designed to be both practical and forward-looking, combining digital learning, in-person training and ongoing industry engagement.
It also incorporates mechanisms for continuous assessment of industry competency gaps, ensuring that training remains aligned with evolving regulatory and governance requirements.
The agreement will initially run for 12 months, with both parties committed to reviewing and potentially expanding the partnership based on its impact and effectiveness.
This partnership underscores the growing importance of regional collaboration in strengthening retirement systems and reflects a shared vision of more resilient, well-governed funds across Southern Africa.
-akaure@nepc.com.na