The Basic Income pilot project that has been running for more than three years in Otjivero, Namibia may have given its last grant payment. The Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition, which has run the project since 2008, is running out of money. It has put out an international call for donations to keep the project going. If it doesn’t receive sufficient funds, payments made earlier this year will be the last.
The project targets nearly 1000 people in the small town of Otjivero in rural Namibia. Organizers originally planned the project to last for two years, but when they saw the positive effects of the policy, they decided to keep it going as long as they could or until the government introduced a nationwide BIG. The results point to a significant drop in child malnutrition, improved access to education and positive performance and output, increased small business activities, improved access to ARVs for HIV+ residents and better community cooperation.
If you are interested in donating to the project, the organizers provide the following instructions:
All amounts are welcomed. You can either give a once-off donation directly or instruct your bank to make a debit order for a minimum of N$100 over 12 or 24 months. Please pay your contribution into either one of the following bank accounts:
Namibian account:
Account name: Name of Bank: Account number: Branch number: Branch name:
ELCRN – BIG Namibia First National Bank 62146088457 281972
Windhoek Commercial Suite
European account in Germany:
Account name: Reference: Name of Bank: Account number: Branch Number (BLZ) BIC:
IBAN:
For more information contact:
Blumhardt-Gemeinde HD-Kirchheim BIG Namibia H+G Bank Heidelberg 100 027 61
672 901 00 GENODE 61 HD 3 DE66 6729 0100 0010 0027 61
Or visit the BIG coalition’s website at: www.bignam.org
For more news about the project, see the following stories:
Sasman, Catherine (2 March 2012) “Namibia: Basic Income Grant Project Money Runs Dry,” The Namibian:
https://allafrica.com/stories/201203020177.html
Namibian Basic Income Grant Coalition (May 2012) “The Basic Income Grant (BIG) is Government’s Responsibility.” Online at:
https://bignam.org/Publications/Press_release_March_2012_to_Government.pdf.
