The Basic Income Grant is a project of the BIG-Coalition in Namibia, a broad coalition of churches and other organisations. Our member church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia is a founding member of the coalition. The coalition aims at installing a Basic Income Grant in Namibia in order to fight poverty in one of the most unequal societies in the world.

In January 2008 a pilot project startet in the small village of Otjivero - with the help of UEM and some of its member chruches like the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland and the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. Every child, man or woman in the village gets 100 Namibian dollars a month (80 dollars from this year on). The success is visible: Malnutrition, the unemployment rate and criminality has been reduced, school attendance has risen from 40 to 90 per cent. Small Bakeries and other handicraft businesses have been established.

It's still unclear if the Namibian goverment is willing to implement the BIG. As long as the discussions continue, we support at least the BIG in Otjivero - to keep the positive development there alive. With your support we will be able to help the people in Otjivero.