Corporate social investment must move beyond once-off donations and sponsorships.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has emphasised that this requires that businesses fund projects that deliver lasting benefits to communities.

She addressed the inaugural Corporate Social Investment event, known as Mukopano CSI, convened by corporate investment stakeholders in Windhoek.

The President implored that corporate social investment focus on building skills and companies to examine how much of the wealth generated from poor communities is returned to those communities.

Dr Nandi-Ndaitwah identified that Namibia also needs a coordinated national framework to improve accountability and alignment between corporate investments and national development priorities.

The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Kaire Mbuende, delivered the President's address.

“Corporate social investment should never become window dressing, a public relations exercise, or an item included in an annual report simply to demonstrate compliance. It should mean what it says: a genuine investment in society. The true measure of such investment is not the size of an announcement or the visibility surrounding a donation.”

The government is targeting basic sports facilities across all 121 constituencies, while youth empowerment remains a priority of the 8th Administration.

Eight industrial parks are also targeted for conversion into industrial hub centres by 2027, placing corporate investment and partnership at the centre of efforts to expand opportunities.

“Our success, therefore, will not be measured only by how much we spend on CSI. It will be measured by whether young Namibians find opportunities, children receive education that changes their lives, families move towards sustainable livelihoods, communities become more resilient, and our collective efforts contribute to a more prosperous, equal, resilient, and inclusive Namibia.”

Through the CSI Mukopano, the private sector is hoping for a shift from individual initiatives to coordinated action to address socio-economic challenges.

Executive Vice President of Swakop Uranium Irvinne Simataa explained that the purpose is to align corporate investment with priorities under the sixth National Development Plan.

“The fundamental ask is, are we collectively achieving the impact that Namibia needs? We continue to face unemployment, inequality, poverty, skill shortages, and unequal access to opportunities and essential services. We must move from fragmented efforts to shared purpose, from duplication to collaboration, and from good intention to measurable outcomes.”

The CSI Mukopano is expected to become an annual gathering.