Also known as: SDFN
Organisation that constructs and delivers low-cost houses for low-income Namibians, funded by government allocation and partnering with private entities.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia partnered with Standard Bank on Buy-a-Brick launched in 2015
“Launched in 2015 in partnership with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia and the Namibia Housing Action Group, Buy-a-Brick has raised more than N$27 million and contributed to the construction of more than 740 houses nationwide, according to the bank.”
Standard Bank gives 15 Omusati families homesNew Era
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia received N$146 million in government funding for 2025/26
“The government has injected N$146 million into the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) during the 2025/26 financial year to address the housing needs of low-income earners.”
State invests N$146m in shack dwellers’ housingNew Era
SDFN and NHAG have built more than 11 000 houses since 1998
“Shack dwellers and Namibia housing have built more than 11 000 houses since 1998 and operate in urban centres across all 14 regions.”
State invests N$146m in shack dwellers’ housingThe Namibian
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia received N$146 million injected by Ministry during 2025/26 financial year
“The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development injected N$146 million into the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia during the 2025/26 financial year, as the government steps up efforts to address the country's housing crisis.”
N$146m injected into shack dwellers housing driveNew Era
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) has constructed and delivered over 11,000 low-cost houses countrywide since 1998
“The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN), through its technical partnership with the Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG), has calumniated into the construction and delivery of over 11 000 low-cost houses countrywide since 1998.”
Housing scheme delivers over 11 000 housesThe Namibian
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia allocated N$20 million in 2026/27 budget
“The 2026/27 budget provides N$406.5 million for the informal settlement upgrading affordable housing programme, while N$20 million each is allocated to the Build Together programme and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.”
N$300m left to tackle Namibia’s housing crisisWindhoek Observer
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia partners in Buy-a-Brick Programme with Standard Bank since 2016
“Padel for Purpose forms part of Standard Bank Namibia's Buy-a-Brick Programme, a corporate social investment initiative implemented in partnership with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.”
Old Mutual’s N$80 000 investment in brighter futures through padelWindhoek Observer
The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia has built more than 7,000 affordable houses for its members since its establishment in 1998
“He praised the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, which has built more than 7 000 affordable houses for its members since its establishment in 1998, and recognised organisations such as Shiwana Penduka and Twahangana for their contributions to affordable housing.”
Amoomo pushes for affordable housing policy reforms nationwideThe Namibian
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia will partner with Nascam on a housing initiative
“The organisation will also pursue a housing initiative with the Namibia Housing Action Group and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia to improve long-term housing security for members.”
Nascam members endorse board, back reformsThe Namibian
Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia is implementing building of 3,106 houses funded by Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
“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.”
Govt to build 3 000 low-income houses at N$137 millionStandard Bank Namibia handed over 15 affordable houses at Onandjaba in Omusati as part of a broader project that delivered 84 homes. The houses were funded through the bank's Buy-a-Brick initiative, which has raised more than N$27 million and contributed to the construction of more than 740 houses nationwide since its 2015 launch.
17 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Standard Bank Namibia handed over 15 affordable houses at Onandjaba in Omusati as part of a broader project that delivered 84 homes. The houses were funded through the bank's Buy-a-Brick initiative, which has raised more than N$27 million and contributed to the construction of more than 740 houses nationwide since its 2015 launch.
17 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The government has allocated N$146 million to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia during the 2025/26 financial year to address housing needs of low-income earners. The Urban and Rural Development Ministry reported completing approximately 1,864 houses countrywide and constructing 250 sanitation facilities in rural areas during the review period.
13 October 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development allocated N$146 million to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia during the 2025/26 financial year to address the country's housing crisis for low-income earners and vulnerable communities. The ministry completed approximately 1,864 houses countrywide during the period and facilitated construction of 250 sanitation facilities in rural areas.
10 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, through partnership with the Namibia Housing Action Group, has constructed and delivered over 11 000 low-cost houses countrywide since 1998. Since July last year, the SDFN has constructed and delivered 2 354 houses and established more than 1 000 active savings groups with over 33 000 members across the country's 14 regions.
8 October 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has approximately N$300 million available for housing construction, but must distribute it among 59 local authorities as budget constraints limit the government's response to growing housing demand. The ministry identified mushrooming informal settlements as a technical challenge, while research is underway to assess the housing market and identify affordable construction methods.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Old Mutual Namibia has contributed N$80,000 to the third Standard Bank Padel for Purpose event on 11–12 September in Windhoek, which raises funds for the Buy-a-Brick Programme supporting low-income housing construction. The programme has raised more than N$27 million since 2016 and contributed toward building approximately 740 houses for low-income families.
24 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Gobabis municipality plans to sell 100 erven in Extension 6 to Mbatjiua Construction CC for N$8.8 million, but residents and activists protested, arguing local individuals should have priority over private developers. Mayor Elwin Gariseb and two Swapo councillors left the community gathering where residents handed over an objection letter.
10 August 2026 · New Era →
More than 35,500 people are on waiting lists for residential land across Oshakati, Ondangwa, and Ongwediva, with Oshakati accounting for over 18,000 applicants. Local authorities cite rising demand for serviced land as a major challenge and are developing new townships to address the shortage.
31 July 2026 · New Era →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on the Windhoek Municipality to rethink its strategies to accelerate housing development, improve access to basic services, and speed up land allocation. He emphasized the need for practical, efficient solutions to eliminate administrative delays and highlighted labour-intensive initiatives like land servicing and urban agriculture to create employment and support sustainable development, against a backdrop of a national housing backlog exceeding 300,000 units.
29 July 2026 · New Era →
Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo has called on the government to expand affordable housing, regulate the rental market, and review laws driving up home ownership costs, particularly for young people and low-income earners. He argues that vacant state-owned houses should be made available for affordable rental and that housing should be treated as a fundamental human right.
27 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Young professionals in Windhoek report that rising rental costs make independent living increasingly unaffordable despite employment, with tenants facing high prices, outdated units, and restrictive lease conditions that consume large portions of their salaries.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music has retained its current board for a three-year term and approved governance, operational, and member welfare reforms to strengthen copyright administration and royalty collections. The organisation also approved launch of a capacity-building centre funded by a US$93,730 Unesco grant, scheduled to begin in July.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Churches and analysts have welcomed Namibia's proposed housing state of emergency, but caution that declarations alone will not address a backlog of over 300,000 homes. The Council of Churches in Namibia says the move must be accompanied by concrete measures, adequate resources, and clear implementation timelines, and calls for faster implementation of free residential plots and increased investment in land servicing.
15 June 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
24 April 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
16 April 2026 · New Era →
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.
10 April 2026 · New Era →
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.
8 April 2026 · New Era →
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.
2 April 2026 · New Era →
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.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
24 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
10 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
7 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
27 February 2026 · Informanté →
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.
20 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →