Funding
Table of Contents
Large Funders
Namibia’s smallholder farmers and rural communities are increasingly adopting regenerative practices to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and overall farm resilience. To support these initiatives, various funding options are available:
1. Environmental Investment Fund (EIF):
Established to mobilize financial resources for environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management, the EIF offers grants and loans to projects that promote sustainable agriculture and community-based natural resource management.
2. Bank of Namibia (BoN):
The BoN advocates for tailored financial products to address the unique needs of smallholder farmers, aiming to promote sustainable agricultural development.
3. NamPower’s Rural Electrification Funding:
Managed by NamPower, with support from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), this fund provides grants for rural electrification projects, facilitating access to renewable energy solutions for rural communities.
4. Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) – Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) Project:
This initiative funds projects that empower rural communities by increasing their resilience to climate change impacts, such as droughts and floods. The EDA project supports sustainable agriculture and natural resource management practices.
5. Solar Revolving Fund (SRF):
Established by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the SRF offers loans to rural communities for acquiring solar energy technologies, including solar-powered appliances for productive use, thereby promoting off-grid renewable energy solutions.
6. Communal Wildlife Conservancies:
Namibia’s communal conservancies enable rural communities to manage and benefit from wildlife and tourism activities on communal lands. These conservancies often generate income that can be reinvested into community development and sustainable land management projects.
7. Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF):
As a non-governmental organization, the NNF implements projects focused on sustainable agriculture, community-based natural resource management, and environmental education, often providing technical and financial support to rural communities.
8. Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD):
MURD oversees regional and local governance, playing a pivotal role in decentralization and rural development processes. The ministry supports infrastructure development and capacity building in rural areas, facilitating access to resources for community-led projects.
Banks
Namibian banks are actively supporting sustainability and regenerative investments through various programs and financial products:
1. Bank Windhoek:
Bank Windhoek has introduced Thematic Bonds, including Green Bonds and Sustainability Bonds, to finance projects with environmental and social benefits. These bonds are designed to support initiatives such as renewable energy, sustainable waste management, and climate change adaptation. Additionally, the bank offers Sustainability Loans tailored for individuals, businesses, and corporations aiming to implement eco-friendly projects.
2. Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank):
Agribank collaborates with international partners to provide concessional loans targeting small-scale farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agriculture sector. For instance, a partnership with KfW Development Bank resulted in a NAD 400 million loan agreement to empower farmers and agribusinesses. These funds are intended to enhance agricultural productivity and promote resource-conserving practices.
3. SUNREF Namibia Programme:
The Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources and Energy Finance (SUNREF) program, developed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), mobilizes commercial Namibian banks to finance private sector investments in green technologies. Participating banks, including First National Bank Namibia, Bank Windhoek, and Nedbank, provide green lines of credit to projects in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
4. Bank of Namibia (BoN):
The central bank has established a Sustainability Framework aimed at integrating climate risks into the financial system and promoting green finance. This framework guides financial institutions in embedding sustainability principles into their operations, thereby fostering investments in environmentally friendly projects.
These initiatives reflect a growing commitment among Namibian financial institutions to support sustainable development and regenerative investments, providing essential funding avenues for smallholder farmers and rural communities.
Here’s an extended version of your article at https://growyourfood.africa/wiki/funding/, with new paragraphs focused on donation and crowdfunding platforms, as well as donor organisations operating in Namibia:
Digital Donation Platforms
For small regenerative projects and individuals passionate about growing food, platforms like Buy Me a Coffee or Ko-fi offer an easy way to collect small recurring or one-time donations from supporters. These platforms are ideal for grassroots educators, gardeners, and community trainers who share their journey online, whether via social media, blogs, or YouTube. They’re simple to set up, don’t require formal registration as a non-profit, and can help cover ongoing costs like seeds, water, or transport. Creators can also offer small rewards or updates to thank supporters, turning casual viewers into long-term backers.
Crowdfunding for Regenerative Projects
Larger initiatives requiring startup capital — such as setting up a community garden, aquaponics system, or training centre — might benefit from crowdfunding platforms. Sites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe allow projects to raise funds from a global audience. These are best suited for projects that offer a compelling story, clear goals, and tangible results. However, they do require a good promotional video, photos, and regular updates. In Europe, platforms like Bettervest.de specialise in sustainable and climate-friendly projects and could be explored for Namibia-based energy, water, or farming projects if structured to include measurable environmental impact and some form of return.
For more community-oriented and regenerative-aligned funding, StartNext (Germany) or Ecocrowd may be appropriate alternatives. These platforms are often more values-driven and attract supporters interested in systemic change, sustainability, and ecological living.
Donor Organisations in Namibia
Namibia hosts a number of international donor organisations, many of which support environmental sustainability, youth development, food security, and climate resilience — all of which overlap with regenerative food and permaculture initiatives.
Some of the most active donors include:
• GIZ Namibia (German development agency) – supporting climate-resilient agriculture and green economy programmes.
• EU Delegation to Namibia – funding initiatives focused on climate, governance, and sustainable rural development.
• USAID Southern Africa – while more active regionally, they have provided funding for health and food security in Namibia.
• Embassies like those of Germany, Finland, and France, which often offer small grant programmes for civil society projects.
• Namibia Development Trust, NAMIBIA Institute for Democracy, and Konrad Adenauer Foundation also fund or facilitate support for developmental projects.
It is also worth connecting with local foundations and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) departments of larger Namibian businesses — including banks and retailers — who may offer sponsorship or seed funding for initiatives with strong community benefit and visibility.
Here’s an extended and updated version of the article with the additional paragraphs, including organisations like Ecosia, other international platforms that may operate in Namibia, and a closing caveat:
Funding from Regeneration-Focused Organisations
Beyond donations and crowdfunding, there are mission-aligned organisations that specifically fund regeneration and ecosystem restoration. One of the most well-known is Ecosia, the search engine that uses ad revenue to fund tree-planting and restoration projects around the world. Ecosia has already funded large-scale projects across Africa, including in neighbouring countries, and is increasingly looking for partners with credible, long-term regeneration plans. Groups working on food forests, agroecology, or large landscape restoration in Namibia may be eligible to apply or collaborate.
Other international funders in this space include:
• The Green Belt Movement (Kenya-based, but occasionally supports wider African networks)
• Trees for the Future
• WeForest – focuses on restoring degraded lands and supporting smallholder farmers.
• Justdiggit – known for water harvesting and regreening drylands in Africa.
• The Lush Spring Prize – supports regenerative projects globally with a strong grassroots focus.
• TerraFund by Restore – provides funding and technical support for verified restoration projects.
These organisations often prefer measurable ecological outcomes, clear reporting structures, and alignment with long-term environmental and social impact.
Other Platforms That May Operate in Namibia
While not all platforms are Namibia-specific, many operate internationally and could be viable for Namibian applicants:
• GlobalGiving – allows vetted NGOs to raise funds internationally.
• SeedMoney.org – funds community food projects with small grants and a focus on growing food.
• AfrikaBurn Creative Grants – although more arts-focused, this Southern African fund occasionally supports sustainability projects.
• HiveOnline – an impact-based funding tool that integrates transparency and trust-building for local cooperatives and micro-entrepreneurs.
• B1G1 (Buy1Give1) – connects small businesses with vetted impact projects; Namibian projects could apply to be listed.
Additionally, Foundations like the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) or African Climate Foundation may be open to food and climate-related initiatives, particularly those with a gender or policy angle.
A Final Note
We share these options in the hope that they will open new funding doors for your regenerative work. However, the Grow Your Food Wiki team has not tested or verified any of these platforms or funders directly. Some may have geographic, thematic, or eligibility restrictions. We therefore kindly ask:
If you’ve used any of these platforms or organisations, please share your experience with us. Your feedback will help us keep this Wiki accurate, relevant, and useful for others walking the regenerative path in Namibia and across Africa.
