20 Mar 2024
The small town of Maltahöhe in southern Namibia became a hype of activity recently, when six different projects received a financial boost for the “RuralRevive Initiative”, which is driven by the social foundation of the local Wolwedans tourism group.
Under the motto “Building a Desert-based Economy”, economic advancement, sustainable development, and the empowerment of the Maltahöhe community is the aim.
On Friday, 15 March 2024, the foundation of the Capricorn Group and the Wolwedans Foundation officially launched a unique partnership in Maltahöhe. The Capricorn Foundation has pledged one million Namibia dollars towards the Wolwedans Foundation's RuralRevive initiative, which started in 2022.
The donated funds will be used to establish and enhance six projects. These are horticulture capacity building, which includes setting up five small holding farmers for organic vegetable production; establishing a fresh produce distribution hub called “The Barn Trading” post, with a customised app; a guaranteed market price stimulus to buy produce from the small holding farmers and the community; an integrated waste management and recycling facility to create jobs; and the “EconoMix –'Business Basic”' skills transfer programme. The latter will be the backbone to entrepreneurial empowerment across all RuralRevive business development projects.
“The RuralRevive initiative aims to build a sustainable model to strengthen the socio-ecological and economic aspects of rural communities by implementing a more inclusive, integrated, and resilient economic diversification concept through the empowerment of economically marginalised women, smallhold farmers and entrepreneurs in the communities of the Maltahöhe district of Namibia,” says Marlize Horn.
The initiative fundamentally anchors in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and aligns with the Capricorn Foundation's vision and commitment to addressing systemic issues such as poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, and education.
Both foundations will work closely with local stakeholders, government agencies, and community leaders to implement the projects.
Stefan Brückner, chairman of the Wolwedans Foundation said: "Through the Rural Revive initiative, we aim to empower the Maltahöhe rural communities and promote inclusive growth with a lasting impact that will echo through for future generations.”
Other partners of the RuralRevive initiative are Namibia's Social Security Commission Development Fund and the Swiss Julius Baer Foundation among others.
Brigitte Weidlich
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