ABOUT

The One Economy Foundation is a social welfare organisation (Reg. WO 468), which was launched in May 2016 and established in terms of the Namibian Companies Act as a Section 21 organisation (Association not for gain).

Namibia, like many other countries, has a dual economy: the first economy consists of middle and high-income earners, and the second economy is made up of low-income earning persons.

The One Economy Foundation thus serves as a bridge of socioeconomic opportunity, building an economy in which equality and shared prosperity thrive.

One Purpose

Our purpose and mission is to

Establish an intersectional safe space with adequate capacity and resources to respond to the needs of young people in a coordinated manner;
Serve people from all backgrounds - especially young people - whose potential may be limited by inequality and psychosocial and socio-economic challenges;
Co-create interventions and programmes informed by the lived experiences of our beneficiaries.

One Goal

Our goal and vision is to

Work to transform mindsets and empower communities in order to improve their livelihoods through evidence-based interventions;
Facilitate an enabling environment for young people to break the chains that limit their potential;
Serve youth from vulnerable communities, especially those who would not otherwise have fair access to quality education, health and wellness and entrepreneurial opportunities.

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OUR PILLARS

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One Heart

WE ARE PEOPLE-CENTRIC

We ensure our programmes and interventions are informed by the lived experiences of our beneficiaries, hereby building long-lasting relationships and sustainable solutions.

WE ARE NEEDS-SPECIFIC

We implement programmes and interventions which are relevant, targeted and evidence-based.

WE ARE BRIDGE-BUILDERS

We connect the powerless to the powerful, and we help build a bridge between the two economies to achieve greater impact.

WE STRIVE FOR COLLABORATION

We work with like-minded organisations and strengthen existing systems to avoid duplication of efforts and optimise resources.

WE’RE ALL ABOUT EMPOWERMENT

We empower people, communities and organisations to champion their own growth and development.

WE LOVE DIALOGUE

We convene, encourage and elevate open and frank dialogue on burning issues that are traditionally considered taboo, and we use our platforms to disseminate key learnings and provide policy recommendations.

One Aim

EDUCATION

We seek to address inequalities in access to opportunities by providing an all-encompassing scholarship to 28 scholars. Our intervention through the Talented Individual Scholarship Programme is rooted in the strong belief that, while talent is evenly distributed, opportunities are low. We, therefore, provide a full spectrum of support services to secondary school learners, which enable the improvement of their educational outcomes, that may be otherwise compromised as a result of harsh social realities.

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

& ENTERPRISE

DEVELOPMENT

(EED)

We serve micro-entrepreneurs in the second economy -- particularly women and youth -- by building their confidence, capacity, and capital to establish sustainable businesses that thrive in the first economy.

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HEALTH

We work to strengthen systems and raise awareness that improves access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services, including family planning, teenage pregnancies, pre- and post-abortion care, comprehensive HIV/AIDS support and access to cervical cancer services. Raising awareness on infertility prevention and treatment and linking beneficiaries to financial support and counseling are also a priority, complemented by our provision of technical and material support to frontline healthcare professionals.

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GENDER-BASED

VIOLENCE

(GBV)

We work on the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence through case management, including psychosocial support and therapeutic services for survivors and their families. Additionally, we conduct court preparation, statutory reports and expert witness statements.

Focus is placed on capacity building and specialised training to frontline service providers, community-based groups and corporates, thereby strengthening existing systems and building greater awareness. Debriefing is also offered to first responders to prevent secondary trauma and burn-out.

We conduct research and focused group discussions to inform our prevention and therapeutic interventions with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The insights from our direct work with survivors and perpetrators inform policy formulation and promote help-seeking behaviour for both survivors and perpetrators of violence.

The #BreakFree Anti-Violence Campaign, a nationwide call for action, seeks to create awareness around the root causes of violence and the related outcomes, including conflict resolution, unresolved trauma and the problematic mindsets that fuel violent behaviour.

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