Trump aid freeze threatens completion of N$3.5m Unam project
A joint N$3.5 million education initiative between the University of Namibia (Unam) and Iowa State University has seen its final phase disrupted following a freeze on US foreign assistance, with the Trump administration halting the final US$5 000 (nearly N$90 000) in funding.
The development reflects broader disruptions across various sectors in Namibia, triggered by recent shifts in American foreign funding policy under the administration of President Donald Trump.
The affected initiative, Strengthening University Systems to Improve Rural Education, was funded by the US State Department and the US Embassy in Windhoek. Valued at approximately N$3.5 million (US$200 000), the project was scheduled to run from October 2022 to October 2024; however, it was extended into 2025, during which the remaining work – valued at around N$90 000 – was to be completed.
According to Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho, another initiative, the Improving Rural Quality Education in Namibia and Iowa project, valued at approximately N$1.5 million, was also affected.
Steady partners
Namesho however highlighted that most of the university’s current projects are funded by partners in Canada, Japan, the European Union and Namibia itself.
“While some of our partners have been impacted by the US funding freeze, Unam’s current research is largely unaffected, as our major funding comes from other sources,” Namesho told Namibian Sun yesterday.
“For example, our Group for Research in Infectious Diseases is funded by the UK, the EU and the German government,” he explained.
Though Unam still maintains ties with US-based institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), collaborations have become more difficult.
Namesho acknowledged that the cancelled US grant has disrupted plans for a postgraduate conference and affected some School of Education partnerships. Unam is also engaging in joint advocacy efforts with other African universities.
“We are in dialogue with African institutions and partners to coordinate responses to these funding challenges,” Namesho said.
Stable funding options
This is the latest among a series of reports on how Namibia has been affected by the American foreign aid freeze.
Namibian Sun recently reported on the Fulbright scholarships and several US-supported health, education and conservation programmes that have been suspended or delayed as Washington reassesses its foreign funding priorities.
Civil society organisations warn that the aid freeze jeopardises essential services for communities affected by HIV, youth unemployment and environmental degradation.
In response, Unam is accelerating efforts to diversify its research partnerships and reduce reliance on US donors. Namesho noted that the university is strengthening collaborations with European institutions and aligning itself with global research platforms such as the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).
“Namibia has formalised its association with the EDCTP, which enhances our eligibility for international health research funding,” he noted.
Unam is also working with the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) to unlock local and international funding channels. A dedicated research, innovation, and development fund is being finalised to provide more stable and self-reliant funding in the future.
Going forward
Meanwhile, increased support from the Namibian government, state-owned enterprises and the private sector has enabled the university to issue new calls for research proposals among academic staff.
While the university has yet to release an official statement on the broader implications of the US aid freeze, internal assessments are ongoing.
“We are currently assessing the full impact and will report once the process is complete,” Namesho confirmed. He added that Unam will be represented at the upcoming EDCTP annual general meeting in Kigali in June.
For now, most postgraduate students remain unaffected, as their funding comes from institutions such as GIZ, the EU and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
The development reflects broader disruptions across various sectors in Namibia, triggered by recent shifts in American foreign funding policy under the administration of President Donald Trump.
The affected initiative, Strengthening University Systems to Improve Rural Education, was funded by the US State Department and the US Embassy in Windhoek. Valued at approximately N$3.5 million (US$200 000), the project was scheduled to run from October 2022 to October 2024; however, it was extended into 2025, during which the remaining work – valued at around N$90 000 – was to be completed.
According to Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho, another initiative, the Improving Rural Quality Education in Namibia and Iowa project, valued at approximately N$1.5 million, was also affected.
Steady partners
Namesho however highlighted that most of the university’s current projects are funded by partners in Canada, Japan, the European Union and Namibia itself.
“While some of our partners have been impacted by the US funding freeze, Unam’s current research is largely unaffected, as our major funding comes from other sources,” Namesho told Namibian Sun yesterday.
“For example, our Group for Research in Infectious Diseases is funded by the UK, the EU and the German government,” he explained.
Though Unam still maintains ties with US-based institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), collaborations have become more difficult.
Namesho acknowledged that the cancelled US grant has disrupted plans for a postgraduate conference and affected some School of Education partnerships. Unam is also engaging in joint advocacy efforts with other African universities.
“We are in dialogue with African institutions and partners to coordinate responses to these funding challenges,” Namesho said.
Stable funding options
This is the latest among a series of reports on how Namibia has been affected by the American foreign aid freeze.
Namibian Sun recently reported on the Fulbright scholarships and several US-supported health, education and conservation programmes that have been suspended or delayed as Washington reassesses its foreign funding priorities.
Civil society organisations warn that the aid freeze jeopardises essential services for communities affected by HIV, youth unemployment and environmental degradation.
In response, Unam is accelerating efforts to diversify its research partnerships and reduce reliance on US donors. Namesho noted that the university is strengthening collaborations with European institutions and aligning itself with global research platforms such as the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).
“Namibia has formalised its association with the EDCTP, which enhances our eligibility for international health research funding,” he noted.
Unam is also working with the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) to unlock local and international funding channels. A dedicated research, innovation, and development fund is being finalised to provide more stable and self-reliant funding in the future.
Going forward
Meanwhile, increased support from the Namibian government, state-owned enterprises and the private sector has enabled the university to issue new calls for research proposals among academic staff.
While the university has yet to release an official statement on the broader implications of the US aid freeze, internal assessments are ongoing.
“We are currently assessing the full impact and will report once the process is complete,” Namesho confirmed. He added that Unam will be represented at the upcoming EDCTP annual general meeting in Kigali in June.
For now, most postgraduate students remain unaffected, as their funding comes from institutions such as GIZ, the EU and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
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