BIG Coalition Namibia

– NEW - Campaign BIG Coalition 2020

Due to the social and economic situation exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis civil society is re-launching the BIG coalition. The introduction of a universal basic income grant for all in Namibia is a matter of urgency! The BIG coalition is hosted by the Economic and Social Justice Trust. To link up to the campaign please see:

www.facebook.com/basicincomegrantnamibia or twitter.com/bignamibia

For further information and action please contact: contact@bignam.org or campaign@bignam.org

SEPTEMBER 2019 – ten years later

In the beginning of 2019 – ten years after the pilot project evaluation – another series of interviews with residents of Otjivero were conducted and compiled in a report. This publication aims to give a voice to the people at the centre of the BIG pilot project who experienced what changed and what remained after the BIG ended and how lives look like ten years later. The publication highlights the political developments since the pilot project. Most importantly it provides a long term analysis of the effects of a Basic Income on household and community level from the perspective of the people concerned. This publications wants to ensure that their voices and opinions are heard.

(PDF Download or EPUB download for eBook readers)

The Basic Income Grant pilot project (2008-2009)

The proposal for a Basic Income Grant in Namibia was made in 2002 by the Namibian Tax Consortium (NAMTAX), a government appointed commission. The consortium made the proposal for a Basic Income Grant in light of the high poverty levels and the unequal distribution of income (income inequality) in Namibia. The debate about a Basic Income Grant in Namibia is based on the following proposal made in 2005: A monthly cash grant of not less than N$100 (~13 US$) should be paid to every Namibian as a right. Every Namibian would receive such a grant until pension age from where onwards he/she is eligible to the existing universal State Old Age Pension of N$500. The money of people not in need or not in poverty would be recuperated through adjustments in the tax system.

Basic Income Grant Coalition founding document, April 2005

Spearheaded by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN), this proposal was taken up by the Namibian civil society and has evolved into the BIG Coalition, which was formed in April 2005. The Basic Income Grant campaign, which aims at achieving the introduction of a Basic Income Grant in Namibia, has to date been the biggest civil society project united in fighting poverty. The Coalition consists of the Council of Churches (CCN), the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), the umbrella body of the NGOs (NANGOF), the umbrella body of the AIDS organisations (NANASO), the National Youth Service (NYC), the Church Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) and the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI). From 2008 to 2009, the BIG Coalition has implemented the first ever pilot project of a BIG in the village of Otjivero in Namibia.

On this website you will find the background, history, research work and documentation of the pilot and the discussion about it:

Pilot Project Publications and other material Photos Media Reports

If you would like to get in touch with the Secretariat of the Coalition or if you are looking for information on the current campaign work, please contact the Economic & Social Justice Trust (contact@bignam.org).