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Foundation grants N$19 million to civil society

Thirty one civil society organisations received a combined N$18.7 million in grants on Thursday evening at a dinner hosted as part of the 3rd Corporate Social Investment Summit by the Civil Society Foundation of Namibia.
The Finnish Embassy in collaboration with PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Investec and Volkswagen sponsored the grants ceremony. The grants are awarded following the second Call for Proposals under the Namibia Civil Society Support Programme. This programme is a three and a half year intervention for which the financing comes from an agreement between the European Union and the government, signed in 2012.
The overall aim of the programme is to strengthen civil society’s contribution to sustainable development and socio-economic justice and comprises two components, support to the NANGOF Trust (NANGOFT) and support to the Civil Society Foundation of Namibia (CSFN).
The programme is funded by the European Union with approximately N$56 million (Eur 4 million). Helping the foundation with the management of grant funds, is Finnish Consulting Group International.
Based on the available funding the foundation launched its first Call for Proposals in June 2013 culminating in seven grants totalling just under N$4 million related to agriculture and rural development for civil society organisations working in Hardap, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa Regions.

This is the 3rd annual summit where donors come together to consider how their investment in Namibia is aligned within the national economic and social investment agenda. The summit theme is “Enhancing Synergies for Social Development” focussing on strategies for corporates and the government to work together to achieve the goals of the 4th national development plan.
The Civil Society Foundation of Namibia is a trust that generates, manages and disburses grants from a variety of donors for the benefit of civil society organisations. It has a particular focus on grassroots organisations based outside the capital region. It was founded in August 2012 and aims to make a long-lasting contribution to civil society as a funds management vehicle.

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