The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has said it will convert its food bank scheme and marginalised grant to cash transfers as the first step toward phasing in a conditional Basic Income Grant. The Ministry explained that the former Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare coordinated a feasibility study to assess the viability of providing a BIG in Namibia and found that a BIG is feasible. However, due to current budget constraints, it can only be provided on either conditional or targeted basis. When asked by the Namibia press agency, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer Lukas Haufiku said they are yet to finalise the amount to be allocated to the beneficiaries on a monthly basis.
