The Coca-Cola system is investing $1.22 million in a water security and ecosystem restoration project in Namibia, as the country faces recurring droughts and increasing pressure on its water resources.

The 'Gam-i Swakop Basin Resilience Project' will focus on strengthening water security in the Swakop River Basin, an important water source for Windhoek and surrounding communities.

Implemented in partnership with the Global Water Challenge (GWC) and WWF Namibia, the initiative will use nature-based solutions to improve water availability and support sustainable management of the river basin.

Planned activities include the construction of two sand storage dams, the restoration of 235 hectares of land through the removal of invasive alien plants, and the planting of 750 trees in river buffer zones and degraded areas within Windhoek's informal settlements.

The project will also involve drilling two boreholes to support groundwater recharge in the Windhoek aquifer. A water resilience action plan has also been developed as part of the initiative.

Namibia faces significant water security challenges, particularly in and around Windhoek, where low and unpredictable rainfall and high evaporation rates put pressure on available resources.

The investment forms part of Coca-Cola's Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, launched in 2024. The programme represents an investment of nearly $25 million to address water-related challenges across 20 African countries by 2030.

Alfred Olajide, vice president of East and Central Africa Operations at Coca-Cola, said: “Because water challenges are local, our approach to water security is focused on local action and collaboration. The Coca‑Cola system remains focused on helping to promote water stewardship, increasing water use efficiency, and treating and returning safe water to communities.”

Henry Friedrich, general manager of Coca-Cola Namibia Bottling Company, commented: “As part of the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group, we have a responsibility to assist those who face water scarcity and to help protect local water resources where we operate, especially in places with the biggest challenges".

"Through the Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, the system aims to help protect important watersheds and to improve access to water and sanitation in local communities.”

WWF Namibia country director Juliane Zeidler added: “Water is one of Namibia's most precious and increasingly vulnerable resources. This project is an opportunity to demonstrate how investing in healthy ecosystems can deliver tangible benefits for people, while also helping communities become more resilient to future climate pressures."

"We hope the lessons and partnerships developed through this initiative can inform similar approaches elsewhere in the country.”