A foundation with purpose NNF’s Show & Tell

On a crisp spring morning on 12 September, the courtyard of the former NICE restaurant stirred with quiet anticipation. Once a popular spot in Windhoek’s dining scene, the building has found new life as the home of the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). Its tranquil setting – shaded, calm and filled with the buzz of conversation – proved an ideal backdrop for a gathering of conservationists, environmentalists and partners from across different sectors.

The Namibia Nature Foundation stands today as one of the country’s homegrown and leading NGOs in conservation and sustainable development. What sets the NNF apart is not only its technical expertise, but its ability to pair that knowledge with financial and project management skills. The result is a portfolio of work that is scientifically rigorous and sustainably implemented, with projects designed to last and genuinely benefit both the people and environments they impact, as exemplified by the NNF’s Applied Scientific Research (ASR) programme.

“MORE THAN JUST SAVING RHINOS.”

At the heart of the NNF’s work lies a simple yet profound guiding principle, which I heard repeated throughout the day: “You can’t do conservation on an empty stomach.” In practice, this translates to conservation that is never just about saving wildlife. It is about livelihoods, about giving agency to people and linking communities and the planet in ways that are sustainable and contextualised.

Across the NNF’s work in Namibia, this ethos takes shape in many forms. Beekeeping workshops provide new streams of income. Farmers are encouraged to adapt practices that make use of the resources already at hand in their regions. Along rivers and coastlines, communities are returning to time-tested fishing methods – such as using woven baskets – that balance tradition with sustainability. Each of these projects carries the same thread: transferring skills, building ownership and nurturing accountable leaders at a grassroots level.

EIGHT PATHWAYS. ONE VISION.

The NNF organises its efforts into eight programmatic areas, with two cross-cutting areas of work that reflect the full breadth of Namibia’s environmental landscape. These include agriculture, freshwater and inland fisheries, forestry as well as marine and coastal conservation. A dedicated focus on strengthening community-based organisations (CBOs) ensures that local communities have both the tools and the rights to manage their resources effectively.

The NNF also addresses emerging threats head-on by monitoring wildlife crime, mitigating human-wildlife conflict and raising awareness about pollution. Additionally, its Technical Services and Policy programme provides the platform to identify synergies and new opportunities, linking grassroots realities to national and even global conversations. Together, these areas reinforce a truth that underpins all the NNF’s work: environmental and developmental challenges are inseparable.

During the Show & Tell event, this philosophy seemed to come alive. Guests wandered from stall to stall, each space highlighting one of the foundation’s eight programmatic areas. Displays and conversations grounded complex projects into tangible experiences. What might otherwise seem abstract to any listener – policies, statistics and conservation strategies –became stories, examples and faces. The atmosphere was one of curiosity, networking and genuine exchange between sectors.

MANY VOICES. ONE GOAL.

The morning also showcased the diversity of voices that shape Namibia’s conservation narrative. Attendees included government officials, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, academics, sponsors and financial institutions. Each brought perspectives and experiences that, together, form the mosaic of sustainable development. The message was clear: no one can do this work alone.

As the gathering drew to a close, there was a sense of celebration; not just of the achievements already attained, but of the partnerships that made them possible. The NNF reaffirmed its commitment to conservation that uplifts both people and nature, weaving together livelihoods and ecosystems into a singular, holistic future.

Madeleen Duvenhage