Books

Basic Income Grant
One might ask, why a publication ten years after the BIG pilot project? A scientific evaluation of the project and its results has been carried out (see next section) and this publication does not aim to repeat the results. Instead, its objective is to revisit the situation of Otjivero and to give a voice to the people living there regarding the changes they experienced since the BIG pilot project ended. At the time of implementation, the BIG pilot project had triggered a lot of national and international attention and solidarity. Despite the end of the project, the interest in Otjivero has continued and this is a clear indication that the debate around a BIG is here to stay, nationally and internationally. Otjivero represents an important experience regarding poverty eradication, social and economic inclusion and the creation of a local labour market. Within Namibia, there are many questions about what has happened to Otjivero and the BIG in general. People in Otjivero are often asked whether they still receive a BIG and when a national roll-out will come. Rudolphine Eigowas stated: “The people think that we still receive BIG. I hear this even over the radio. They say Otjivero is so lucky, they get BIG and Harambee.” Stephanus Eigowab added: “They say, ‘we are neighbours, so since the BIG has come to Otjivero we thought it would also come to us?’” At an international level, much has been written about the BIG in Otjivero. Interviews in print, radio and TV have been published and a continuous stream of journalists from all over the world still frequent Otjivero to this day with the aim to get first-hand information about what the BIG has achieved. At the same time, Bishop Kameeta´s recent attendance at the German church gathering (“Kirchentag”) on 21 June 2019 filled a huge hall under the title: “If I was not poor, you would not be rich”. For many the Namibian BIG project

Basic Income Grant Pilot Project Assessment Report, April 2009
The research of the Basic Income Grant Pilot Project is designed and carried out jointly by the Desk for Social Development (DfSD) and the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) on behalf of the BIG Coalition (comments to: web@bignam.org). Coalition web page: www.bignam.org The authors of this report are Claudia Haarmann, Dirk Haarmann, Herbert Jauch, Hilma Shindondola-Mote, Nicoli Nattrass, Ingrid van Niekerk and Michael Samson. Printing of this publication is funded by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and is hereby gratefully acknowledged.

BIG pamphlet 2022
A study published by the World Bank in 2022 showed that 1.6 million Namibians (64% of the population) live in poverty ▪ 800,000 Namibians are starving and need humanitarian aid ▪ Namibia has amongst the highest levels of inequalities & unemployment rates in the world with youth unemployment of over 50%. ▪ Poverty leads to crime, gender-based violence and suicide