Start giving back, president tells corporates

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged Namibian businesses to move past symbolic donations, transforming corporate social investment into impactful, long-term national socio-economic development.

Speaking at the recent inaugural Namibia Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Mukopano in Windhoek, the president, through National Planning Commission director general ambassador Kaire Mbuende, said companies should focus on whether their investments create lasting benefits for communities.

“Corporate Namibia must ensure that CSI goes beyond symbolic contributions and becomes a meaningful driver of social and economic transformation,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said businesses had a responsibility to remain conscious of the communities that contribute to their success, while acknowledging the role of profitable companies in creating jobs and supporting economic growth.

“CSI should not be viewed as a public relations exercise or simply a compliance requirement, but rather as a genuine investment in society,” she said.

The president said the impact of corporate investment should be measured by outcomes such as improved education and healthcare, youth empowerment and stronger household livelihoods.

“The true measure of corporate investment is not the size of an announcement or the visibility of a donation, but whether it creates lasting impact,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Mukopano partners, MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo said the initiative had identified seven priority areas, including youth employment and skills development, education, water and sanitation, health, food security, enterprise development and infrastructure.

“We have identified seven national CSI priority areas for greater impact,” he said.

Ekandjo said the next step would be to develop a national CSI response action plan, identify priority projects, mobilise funding and increase corporate participation.

“As CSI Mukopano, our task is now to develop a national CSI response action plan, identify priority projects, mobilise funding, build corporate participation, implement for impact and report annually,” he said.

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