The first Corporate Social Investment Mukopano that took place in Windhoek on Wednesday, 3 September 2026, has shown that there still is an imbalance in terms of the three crucial pillars of Namibian society: government, private sector and civil society, as CSOs were merely regarded as “recipients that are to be selected for funding” and not as “actual partners to be worked with” by the organizing corporates. This shows in the fact that for identifying ‘Namibia’s Pressing Social Issues’ only the Governors of Namibia’s 14 regions were asked but no civil society consultations took place. Similarly, no civil society representatives were part of the opening presentations.
As official partner for the event, the Namibian government had initiated the Namibia Public-Private Forum in 2025, which also did not significantly include civil society. However, in his opening remarks on behalf of the president, the Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Kaire Mbuende, highlighted the important role Civil Society is playing, and NPC is still in the process of finalizing the crucial Government – Civil Society Partnership and Engagement Policy.
During informal discussions the CSI Mukopano organizers indicated openness to including Civil Society more such as as partners, including in the early stages of organizing future events.