Introduction
The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia is a national environmental financing institution that mobilizes and distributes financial resources for climate action, biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural-resource management and green economic development in Namibia.
Commonly known as EIF Namibia, the Fund supports individuals, communities, public institutions, civil society organizations and businesses implementing environmentally responsible projects. It combines grants, concessional loans and international climate finance to address Namibia’s environmental and socioeconomic priorities.
History and Background
The origins of the Environmental Investment Fund are connected to the Namibian Green Plan, presented by Namibia’s founding president, Dr. Sam Nujoma, at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.
The Green Plan highlighted the environmental degradation affecting Namibia’s communal, inland and coastal areas. It also emphasized the need to balance economic development with the sustainable management of land, water, biodiversity and other natural resources.
In 1995, Namibia’s first National Development Plan included the establishment of an environmental investment fund as a national priority. The Directorate of Environmental Affairs within the Ministry of Environment and Tourism subsequently led work to develop an institution aligned with national policies but capable of operating with institutional autonomy.
The Environmental Investment Fund was formally created through the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia Act, Act No. 13 of 2001. Following further consultation, institutional development and capitalization, the Fund was officially launched on 13 February 2012.
Benedict Libanda was appointed as its first chief executive officer. Since its launch, EIF Namibia has developed into a significant national institution for environmental finance, climate adaptation and green investment.
Mission and Purpose
The mission of EIF Namibia is to promote Namibia’s sustainable economic development by investing in and supporting projects that protect and maintain the country’s natural and environmental resources.
Its vision is to become a recognized leader in developing and applying innovative financial mechanisms that support environmentally and technologically sound development in Namibia.
Its central objectives are to:
- Mobilize domestic and international environmental finance.
- Allocate funding to projects that use natural resources sustainably.
- Promote efficient natural-resource management.
- Support environmentally sound technologies and businesses.
- Strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable communities.
- Protect biodiversity, ecosystems and productive landscapes.
- Encourage inclusive green economic development.
- Improve the livelihoods of Namibian communities through sustainable investment.
The Fund’s work is aligned with Namibia’s national development priorities and its commitments under international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Governance and Structure
The Environmental Investment Fund is a public entity established under Namibian legislation. Its governance is guided by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia Act and relevant public-enterprise governance requirements.
The Fund is overseen by a Board of Directors responsible for institutional policy, strategic direction, governance and accountability. According to the current information published by EIF Namibia, the Board is chaired by Magreth Tjongarero, with Louise Brown serving as vice-chairperson. View the Board of Directors.
The chief executive officer and management team oversee the Fund’s daily operations, implementation of strategy, financial management and administration of environmental programmes.
Its organizational structure includes functions covering:
- Executive leadership and institutional management.
- Finance and administration.
- Grants and concessional lending.
- Project development and operations.
- Climate-finance mobilization.
- Project monitoring and evaluation.
- Environmental and social safeguards.
- Stakeholder engagement and communications.
The Fund also uses governance and technical structures such as a Review Committee and technical advisers to assess proposals and support transparent investment decisions.
EIF Namibia maintains policies covering environmental and social safeguards, information disclosure, complaints handling, prohibited practices and appeals. Applicants and beneficiaries can challenge certain grant or loan decisions and procedures through its grievance and appeal mechanisms.
Funding and Grants
EIF Namibia mobilizes resources from the Namibian Government, environmental levies, development partners, multilateral climate funds and other domestic and international sources.
It then channels these resources through different financing instruments.
Environmental Grants
EIF grants support projects that protect natural resources, improve environmental management and deliver sustainable community benefits.
Grant funding may support areas such as:
- Climate-change adaptation and mitigation.
- Biodiversity and ecosystem conservation.
- Sustainable agriculture and land restoration.
- Community-based natural-resource management.
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency.
- Water conservation and water infrastructure.
- Waste management and recycling.
- Green technology and low-carbon development.
- Sustainable tourism and nature-based enterprises.
- Environmental education and community participation.
Grant amounts, eligibility conditions and application periods vary between programmes. Applicants must follow the criteria published for each funding call and demonstrate clear environmental, social and economic results.
Concessional Loans
EIF Namibia provides concessional loans for environmentally responsible investments that can generate revenue while delivering measurable environmental benefits.
These loans may offer more favourable conditions than conventional commercial financing. They can support businesses and projects involving renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling, sustainable agriculture, resource-efficient production and other green economic activities.
The Fund’s website reports a concessional loan-book value of approximately N$12.9 million, although portfolio figures can change as new investments are approved or repaid.
Bursaries and Sponsorships
EIF Namibia also provides bursaries and educational support connected to environmental studies, climate change, natural-resource management and related disciplines.
Sponsorships may support activities that strengthen environmental awareness, education, conservation and sustainable development. Availability depends on the Fund’s priorities and annual resources.
International Climate Finance
EIF Namibia is accredited as a Direct Access Entity of the Green Climate Fund. This status allows it to develop and submit climate proposals and access GCF resources on behalf of Namibia.
The Fund was accredited by the Green Climate Fund in July 2015 and was subsequently reaccredited in 2021. It is accredited to undertake micro-sized projects and programmes valued at up to USD 10 million.
EIF Namibia’s GCF portfolio has included four adaptation activities with approximately USD 39.1 million in approved financing and co-financing. These initiatives have focused on drought-affected rural communities, climate-resilient livelihoods, ecosystem-based adaptation and sustainable natural-resource management.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Community-Based Natural Resource Management Enhanced Direct Access Project
The Empower to Adapt project supports climate-resilient livelihoods through community-based natural-resource management.
Financed with USD 10 million from the Green Climate Fund, the programme has provided local organizations and communities with greater involvement in selecting and implementing climate-adaptation investments.
Supported activities have included:
- Climate-resilient agriculture.
- Sustainable tourism enterprises.
- Renewable-energy installations.
- Water infrastructure.
- Livestock and wildlife-related livelihoods.
- Community-based conservation.
- Small-scale green enterprises.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Vulnerable Extreme Northern Crop-Growing Regions
The CRAVE project was designed to strengthen the climate resilience of farming communities in Namibia’s vulnerable northern regions.
Its activities have focused on climate-smart agriculture, water access, agricultural technologies, farmer training and improved food production under increasingly difficult climatic conditions.
Improving Rangeland and Ecosystem Management
This climate-adaptation programme works with smallholder farmers in the Sesfontein, Fransfontein and Warmquelle areas of the Kunene Region.
It seeks to reduce climate vulnerability by improving rangeland management and protecting the ecosystems that support agricultural production. The programme was designed to benefit approximately 44,400 smallholder farmers and their family members.
Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Project
The ecosystem-based adaptation initiative supports communities in using natural ecosystems to manage climate risks and strengthen livelihoods.
Its activities may include landscape rehabilitation, sustainable water management, improved grazing practices, climate-smart agriculture and livelihood diversification.
The project received approximately USD 8.9 million from the Green Climate Fund, together with Namibian government co-financing.
SUNREF Namibia Programme
SUNREF Namibia promotes sustainable energy use and environmentally responsible investment.
The programme has supported financing for:
- Renewable-energy technologies.
- Energy-efficient buildings and equipment.
- Cleaner industrial production.
- Resource-efficient business operations.
- Green enterprises.
It demonstrates how concessional finance can encourage private-sector investment in Namibia’s transition toward a low-carbon economy.
Green Impact Facility
The Green Impact Facility supports businesses and entrepreneurs developing green products, services and technologies.
It is intended to help environmentally focused enterprises access finance, technical assistance and business-development support. Its wider objective is to create employment while advancing Namibia’s environmental and climate priorities.
Global Cleantech Innovation Programme Namibia
The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme supports Namibian entrepreneurs developing technologies and business models in clean energy, waste management, water efficiency, sustainable agriculture and other green sectors.
The initiative combines enterprise development, mentoring, investment readiness and connections to potential financiers. A national academy has also been established to accelerate cleantech innovation and empower local entrepreneurs.
UNDP–GEF Small Grants Programme
EIF Namibia has been involved with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, implemented through the United Nations Development Programme.
The programme supports community-led projects in areas such as biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, sustainable forest management and international waters.
An earlier EIF report stated that the programme had supported approximately 120 projects across Namibia’s regions and distributed close to N$30 million.
Game Products Trust Fund
The Game Products Trust Fund channels income derived from wildlife-related activities toward conservation and rural development.
Its investments can support wildlife management, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, conservation infrastructure and community-based natural-resource management.
Youth Development Fund
The Youth Development Fund supports young Namibians and youth-led enterprises. Its inclusion within EIF Namibia’s programme portfolio creates opportunities to connect youth entrepreneurship with sustainable development, green technologies and employment creation.
SDG Namibia One
EIF Namibia worked with the Government of Namibia on SDG Namibia One, an investment platform focused on green hydrogen and the country’s energy transition.
A EUR 40 million grant from the Government of the Netherlands was secured to help establish the platform. The initiative aims to mobilize substantially greater public and private investment for green hydrogen infrastructure and related sustainable-development priorities.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
EIF Namibia has reported substantial growth in the financial resources mobilized for environmental protection and climate action.
In a February 2024 institutional update, the Fund reported that it had:
- Mobilized more than N$3.6 billion from multilateral organizations and development partners.
- Distributed more than N$2.3 billion in grants and climate-related investments.
- Supported the conservation of over 240,256 hectares of land.
- Approved 71 grants for environmental projects.
- Created more than 950 employment opportunities, primarily in rural areas.
- Retrofitted 169 boreholes.
- Improved access to safe drinking water for more than 77,000 people.
Examples of supported work include:
- Solar-powered boreholes serving rural communities.
- Climate-smart community gardens.
- Goat-revolving schemes for vulnerable households.
- Hydroponic agricultural systems.
- Bush-based animal-feed production.
- Community-owned renewable-energy facilities.
- Water and solar infrastructure for farmers’ cooperatives.
- Rangeland restoration and ecosystem management.
- Waste-recycling and resource-recovery enterprises.
- Sustainable tourism and conservation businesses.
The Fund’s website also reports annual production of approximately 3,000 tonnes of organic fertilizer, recycling of about 3,402 tonnes of glass waste and recycling of approximately 1,164 tonnes of cardboard.
Conclusion
The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia is a central institution in Namibia’s green-finance and climate-development landscape. Created through Act No. 13 of 2001 and operationally launched in 2012, the Fund mobilizes domestic and international resources for projects that combine environmental protection with economic and social development.
Through environmental grants, concessional loans, Green Climate Fund programmes, community-based conservation and green-enterprise support, EIF Namibia helps communities, organizations and businesses respond to climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, water insecurity and other environmental challenges.
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