Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia — implements government housing projects and builds homes through partnerships with financial institutions and private sector, addressing informal settlements.
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April 2026
The Namibian
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiais implementingbuilding of 3,106 houses funded by Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
Source
“The project, funded through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, is being implemented by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia in an effort to tackle the country's housing backlog and improve Namibians' living conditions.”
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiahas deliveredmore than 530 houses valued at over N$23 million over past decade
Source
“The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia has delivered more than 530 houses valued at over N$23 million over the past decade through partnerships with FNB Namibia, via the FNB Foundation, the Pupkewitz Foundation and Ohorongo Cement.”
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiais involved inmass housing delivery across all 14 regions
Source
“He stated that the funds will complement ongoing programmes involving the NHE, Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN), and other development partners engaged in mass housing delivery across all 14 regions.”
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiahas been allocatedover 200 plots
Source
“In addition, over 200 plots have been allocated to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN), while 172 more are being serviced through partnerships with development organisations.”
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiais constructing54 houses at Usakos
Source
“The construction of 54 houses at Usakos by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) has been halted due to a delay in procuring prepaid water meters.”
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiacollaborated with Standard Bank to help constructover 7 000 brick homes
Source
“A statement issued by the bank yesterday says that, in collaboration with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia and other partners, it has helped construct of over 7 000 brick homes, improving the living conditions of more than 30 000 Namibians.”
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiapartnered in handing overthe house at Okahandja Park
Source
“According to a statement issued on Thursday, the house was handed over last Friday in partnership with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.”
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibiahas accusedOkongo Village Council of failing to deliver plots to paid-up members
Source
“The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia at Okongo has accused the Okongo Village Council of failing to deliver plots to some of its paid-up members.”
The City of Windhoek has approved four township development projects aimed at formalising informal settlements and delivering more than 1 400 housing units to accommodate an estimated 4 866 people in Otjomuise and Hadino Hishongwa.
Why it matters
Windhoek's approval of 1,400 new housing units directly addresses informal settlement formalization and acute housing shortages affecting thousands of residents.
The City of Windhoek has approved four township development projects aimed at formalising informal settlements and delivering more than 1 400 housing units to accommodate an estimated 4 866 people in Otjomuise and Hadino Hishongwa.
The government has committed N$137 million to building 3,106 low-income houses through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, implemented by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, to address the country's housing backlog. The project is part of broader efforts to formalise informal settlements and prioritise completing stalled units under the Mass Housing Development Programme, though the ministry's 2026/27 budget has been reduced from N$2.67 billion to N$1.95 billion.
The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia has built more than 530 houses valued at over N$23 million over the past decade through partnerships with FNB Namibia, the Pupkewitz Foundation and Ohorongo Cement, with a further 60 homes planned for the coming year in selected urban centres.
The Okongo Village Council has extended the deadline for revoking unoccupied plots with arrears of N$20,000 or more from 1 April to 1 May 2026, giving property owners additional time to settle debts and develop their land. Unoccupied plots with outstanding balances will be revoked without further notice and reallocated to applicants from a waiting list of 1,752 residential and business applicants.
The Landless People's Movement boycotted President Nandi-Ndaitwah's State of the Nation Address, calling it political theatre that masks poor governance; the presidency responded that dialogue is essential in a democracy and that such absences represent a missed opportunity to raise concerns.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has been allocated N$2 billion for 2026/2027, with an additional N$1.5 billion from the National Housing Enterprise to accelerate housing construction and address Namibia's housing backlog. The ministry has prioritised informal settlement formalisation and rural development, though infrastructure constraints—particularly ageing sewer systems requiring an estimated N$2.5 billion in upgrades—threaten to slow progress.
The Omaruru Town Council is developing housing, market, and electrification projects to improve living conditions, but faces constraints from land servicing limitations and bulk infrastructure capacity, particularly a reliance on septic systems that restricts town expansion.
The City of Windhoek requires N$1 billion annually over four years to tackle a 60,000-unit housing backlog driven by rapid urban migration and insufficient funding. Current annual funding of around N$290 million falls far short, and the city may miss its 2030 deadline to address the shortage unless more resources are allocated.
Construction of 54 houses at Usakos by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia has stalled due to delays in procuring prepaid water meters. The Usakos Town Council says installation is on hold until additional materials from South Africa arrive, expected this week, though community members expressed frustration over the hold-up despite having paid N$5,400 for the meters.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has urged financial institutions to protect homeowners from repossession even after decades of payments, calling for a national dialogue to find fair solutions that prioritise "humanity over profit". He also questioned why housing loans span decades compared to vehicle loans and highlighted Namibia's severe housing crisis, with a backlog of over 300,000 houses.
The government has begun a phased project to replace informal settlements with serviced land in Otjiwarongo, starting with water infrastructure in Eie Risiko that has already connected 80 households to taps and water meters. Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa said future phases will include electricity, roads, and sewerage, with plans to eliminate shacks in the area within a year.
An IPC parliamentarian criticized the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development's reduced N$1.9-billion budget, arguing it will fail to address Namibia's housing shortage. He noted the ministry received N$2.7 billion the previous year but built only 194 housing units in Windhoek and Opuwo combined, while an estimated 12,000 shacks are erected annually.
National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, the first woman to lead Namibia's parliament, says the country is advancing gender equality through policy advocacy and gender-sound laws. With President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Vice President Lucia Witbooi also in office, Namibia is among the few countries globally where women hold the president, vice president, and speaker positions simultaneously.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for further exploration of alternative housing technologies after inspecting a demonstration house built using Alternative Building Technology (ABT) panels in Okahandja Park. The President directed government officials to explore how the technology could be scaled up to help address Namibia's housing backlog, and commended the Namibian entrepreneurs behind the initiative.
The Finance Minister tabled the 2026/27 National Budget allocating N$1.9 billion to the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development, with N$744 million for developmental projects. The government reported progress in housing delivery through various programmes and is shifting key strategic projects to State-Owned Enterprises to maximise development funding.
Since 2015, Standard Bank Namibia's Buy-a-Brick initiative has raised over N$27 million in partnership with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, helping construct more than 7,000 brick homes that have improved living conditions for over 30,000 Namibians. In 2024, the bank contributed N$3.5 million to build 76 additional homes in the Erongo and Omusati regions.
ABT Panels handed over a two-bedroom house built in two days at Okahandja Park in partnership with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia. The house uses a panel-based system for thermal efficiency and was built to provide affordable, sustainable housing to vulnerable communities.
The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia at Okongo says the village council failed to deliver plots to six of 21 members who paid N$17,371 for a land survey. The council chief confirms the six members were not allocated plots due to land unavailability but says alternative plots have since been secured for them.