NAMIBIAN CLEANTECH NEWS

ENTREPRENEURIAL SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLEANTECH SOLUTIONS IN NAMIBIA

On 29 January, clean technology entrepreneurs from across Namibia gathered at the Co-Creation Hub in Windhoek to learn about Namibia’s innovation and entrepreneurship funding landscape and investment opportunities for early-stage innovators.

Entrepreneurs participated in extensive Q&A after the panel discussion left to right)  Aina-Maria Iteta - Executive: Business Strategy and Performance Management ;Jesaya Hano-Oshike -Namibia Business Angels Network; Heinrich Tsauseb Acting Head: SME Finance Development Bank of Namibia (DBN); Josefina Gebhard- a rising student and entrepreneur;  Bianca Janse Van Vuuren - Head of SME and financial analytics Capricorn Group; David Nuyoma -CEO of Capricorn Group; Benedict Libanda - CEO

The event “Fundraising 101 for Namibian Cleantech Entrepreneurs”, organized by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), the Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Network for Global Innovation (NGIN), and supported by the Capricorn Foundation, invited participants to explore the basics of start-up fundraising and discuss the cleantech innovation potential of Namibia.

Participants from the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia, Capricorn Group, the Namibia Business Angel Investors, and the Development Bank of Namibia engaged in a vigorous four-hour discussion on what entrepreneurs need to do to engage investors and secure funding, focusing on some of the following topics:

• Effect of specific national policies on MSMEs’ success in accessing finance

• Diversity of early-stage funding mechanisms for cleantech solutions

• Priorities and interests of potential cleantech investors, including what type of investment, development stage, and valuation expectations they have

• Useful tips for preparing a successful pitch

Perhaps this line sums up the discussion the best: “No passion and no commitment means no funding!”

Leveraging the presence of Namibian cleantech entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders at the event, UNIDO and EIF used this opportunity to officially launch the GCIP Namibia project as part of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and implemented globally by UNIDO in partnership with NGIN and the Cleantech Group.  

In her welcoming message, Rana Ghoneim, Chief of the Division of Energy and Climate Action at UNIDO, emphasized:  “As the GCIP network continues to grow, I am happy to see Namibia joining the big “GCIP family.” In Namibia, there is a great potential for cleantech innovation, and GCIP is an opportunity to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of Namibian start-ups.”

JTF NAMIBIA CHALLENGE:  

APPLY     INTEGRATED WATER-ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR DROUGHT-RESILIENT COMMUNITIES NOW!     A JUST TRANSITION TO THE FUTURE GLOBAL PROGRAMME

HTTPS://JTFCHALLENGE-NAMIBIA.SKILD.COM

CALLING ALL INNOVATORS — Students, professionals, and problem-solvers—to create smart solutions that save water and enhance energy efficiency. 

Applications for the Just Transition to the Future (JTF) Water-Energy Nexus Innovation Challenge have been extended until 17 February 2025.

If you are exploring sustainability, energy efficiency, or water conservation in your research or are developing a technology solution to tackle these challenges, this is a great opportunity to turn your ideas into real-world solutions. Apply NOW and be part of Namibia’s sustainable future!

 WEBSITE: Enter the Challenge here and apply:  JTF Namibia YOUTUBE: Watch our video to get inspired: JTF Challenge: Namibia

Thought Leadership article from Capricorn Foundation:

“Driving Namibia’s Just Transition Through Open Innovation in the Water-Energy Nexus”

The first quarter of 2025 marks the official launch of the GCIP 

Namibia project of United Nations Industrial Development 

Organization (UNIDO), implemented nationally by the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This brings the global community of GCIP to 17 partner countries spanning Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. 

UNIDO-led flagship Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) empowers MSMEs in emerging markets and developing economies to support the growth of homegrown clean technology solutions that help address climate and energy transition challenges. This includes reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving energy and resource efficiency, and enhancing access to clean energy.

Since 2014, GCIP has supported over 1,700 early-stage companies, trained more than 500 experts, and aimed to mitigate over ten million metric tons of direct and indirect GHG emissions by 2030. GCIP helps entrepreneurs develop business models, commercialize their technologies, and access investment opportunities. In parallel, GCIP works with national governments to strengthen local innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, improve policy frameworks, and build institutional capacities. Learn more about GCIP services for start-ups and partnership and engagement opportunities with the Programme here: GCIP

ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT FUND OF NAMIBIA (EIF)

EIF is a fund created by Act 13 of 2001 of the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia with the overall aim of continuing this great legacy by supporting individuals, projects and communities that ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.

As a developing country, Namibia is heavily dependent on natural resources for our economic development through mining, fishing, farming and tourism. Yet many Namibians do not benefit directly from these natural riches. One of our priorities is to address this skewed access. The goal is to have a more inclusive approach and to regulate the use of natural resources to prevent wastage, inefficiency and degradation.

The EIF was officially launched in 2012 and is currently funded by a government allocation with the mandates to tap into local conservation fees and environmental levies. These funds will be used to invest in the protection of the environment, its biological diversity and ecological life-support functions; and the promotion of sustainable natural resources use for economic development by supporting green and environmental enterprises.

The EIF is building a sustainable fund that supports a variety of new and existing initiatives in the country. In doing so, we create partnerships with NGOs, Government, community-based organizations and the business community to ensure that our projects are well–positioned in the socio-economic and environmental tapestry of development, and to guarantee the buy-in of our local and international stakeholders.

EIF Website 

ABOUT UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (UNIDO)

UNIDO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a unique mandate to promote, dynamize and accelerate industrial development. The guiding principle of UNIDO’s activities is low-emission, climate-resilient development. This means promoting policies, technologies and practices so that countries can take climate action and create millions of new, decent jobs. UNIDO sees innovation as key to mitigating and adapting to climate change. M

The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) of UNIDO, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), aims to address the growing global demand for environmental sustainability and climate action by harnessing the potential of cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship. Through GCIP’s theory of change, the programme seeks to empower innovative cleantech start-ups and MSMEs to make substantial contributions to climate mitigation. The goal is to achieve low-carbon development and stimulate job creation in priority sectors and systems.

Website

ABOUT THE CAPRICORN FOUNDATION

The Capricorn Foundation is a Section 21 Company and a registered Welfare Organization (WO499). The Capricorn Foundation was established in 2020 as the main driver of the Capricorn Group’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and is funded by Bank Windhoek, Capricorn Asset Management and Entrepo.

The Capricorn Foundation aspires to be a Connector of Positive Change by creating and supporting initiatives and programmes that promote community development. Inspired by the transformative power of collective action and collaboration, the Capricorn Foundation remains dedicated to building a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Namibia for future generations. The Foundation impacts thousands of lives through targeted initiatives and strategic support for projects and organizations aligned with its key strategic areas: Economic Advancement, Education and Training, Vulnerability Programmes, Health, and Sustainability.

Website

ABOUT NGIN

NGIN’s Mission is to help make this world a better place - we are a non-profit for a reason.  To achieve our mission, we work at the intersection of sustainable technologies, entrepreneurs, and green economies.  We work closely with governments and NGOs around the world to build high performance innovation ecosystems in places as varied as Los Angeles to West Bengal.  NGIN offers its members and partners a wide range of  best-in-class entrepreneur support programming.  NGIN was conceived at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), recognized as one of the world’s leading innovation hubs and leader of Los Angeles’ reputation as a cleantech hub.

Since 2014 NGIN has been the Global Implementation Partner for UNIDO’s flagship Global Cleantech Innovation Programme, which has supported over 1,700 early-stage companies in more than a dozen developing countries.  NGIN has worked in or has a footprint in more than 20 Global North and Global South countries.

Website