Launching a pilot initiative to empowering local communities through cultural entrepreneurship in Namibia

In the border of the arid beauty of the Namib, Sand, communities from Maltahöhe, Aus and Utuseb gathered around a simple yet powerful idea: that heritage can help build livelihoods and stronger futures.

From 17 to 20 November 2025, community members from the three towns met with UNESCO to explore how their heritage, a source of pride for the communities, could also provide a pathway to social and economic development. Women arrived carrying crafts passed down through generations; youth came full of hope for creating something new. Elders shared memories of places where footprints have faded but stories remain strong.

In the framework of the project “Creating  a Sustainable Heritage Ecosystem for the Socio-economic Development in Africa”, funded by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, the initiative, Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Socio-economic Development of Local Communities, launched in partnership between UNESCO, Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), is grounded in a simple approach: placing local voices, particularly those of women and youth, at the centre of livelihood development.

Opening addresses by representative of UNESCO, MEIYSAC and MEFT.  ©UNESCO/Joseph Iilonga

Local communities take the lead in the project proposals

During the launch day in Maltahöhe, community members demonstrated strong engagement and a clear willingness to contribute to the future of their heritage. The discussions provided an initial overview of the issues they consider most pressing and of the areas where they see opportunities for concrete action.

Following the formal addresses, participants further detailed the realities of life in remote areas, including limited employment opportunities, challenges in ensuring that young people remain connected to their culture, and the potential they identify in tourism and cultural knowledge. Proposed ideas included storytelling walks, guided tours, desert-based activities and the development of craft production.

Turning proposals into effective support plans

During the launch, UNESCO and its partners presented the findings of the Needs Assessment conducted in May 2025, which identified local skills, emerging initiatives, priority needs and clear opportunities for entrepreneurship linked to tourism, storytelling, craft production and desert-based experiences.

Small group sessions were organised to refine project ideas and assess them against the pilot’s seed-funding criteria. These discussions helped evaluate each proposal’s feasibility, cultural relevance, livelihood potential and alignment with sustainability principles. The process also enabled UNESCO to gather additional information, clarify training needs and strengthen the foundations of the proposals being prepared.

Rural Revive: A model for community-led heritage enterprises

As part of the programme, UNESCO and its partners visited the Rural Revive initiative in Maltahöhe. The visit offered a concrete example of community-led entrepreneurship rooted in heritage and environmental stewardship. Observations from the field will inform the next stages of programme design, especially in relation to training requirements, governance structures and the long-term viability of rural enterprises.

©UNESCO/Joseph Iilonga

Next Steps of the implementation

With the launch complete, the pilot now moves into its implementation phase. In the coming weeks, UNESCO will circulate the seed-funding questionnaire and begin selecting community proposals for support. By early 2026, trainers will be identified, materials developed, and community workspaces prepared. Capacity-building sessions will be offered from January to February to build skills in entrepreneurship and project development. A mid-project review in March and April will assess progress and outline a sustainability plan, while the final phase in May 2026 will consolidate results and prepare supported initiatives for long-term implementation.

Creating a Sustainable Heritage Ecosystem for Socioeconomic Development in Africa

This project “Creating a Sustainable Heritage Ecosystem for Socio-economic Development in Africa,” generously funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia contributes to the implementation of the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa, a tool of Priority Africa, Flagship Programme 3, which aims to ensure that communities across Africa benefit more directly from the World Heritage sites they help protect – transforming cultural heritage into sustainable opportunities for entrepreneurship and livelihood.