LocationsMutjimangumwe Carpentry Workshop: Building Skills, Livelihoods, and Hope
July 9, 2025
Signboard announcing the Malaleg Community and Development Project, supported by the NILALEG Project—funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in partnership with UNDP.
Tucked away in the tranquil landscapes of the Mpungu Constituency lies a story of resilience, growth, and craftsmanship. The Mutjimangumwe Carpentry Workshop was established in 2024 with support from the Namibia Integrated Landscape Approach for Enhancing Livelihoods and Environmental Governance (NILALEG) Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in partnership with UNDP. While the project aims to promote sustainable natural resource management while creating green livelihoods across rural Namibia. This initiative is about much more than furniture, it’s about restoring dignity, creating employment, and building a sustainable future for the community.
UNDP monitoring team visits the Mutjimagumwe Carpentry Workshop, established in 2024 to promote sustainable natural resource management and create green livelihoods in rural Namibia.
What began with 18 skilled male carpenters has grown into a vibrant and empowering cooperative, fuelled by dedication, craftsmanship, and a shared sense of purpose.
Before the project began, members relied on traditional tools, such as axes, to carry out their work. "We were struggling, using what we had," shared one of the cooperative members. "Now, we are proud of how far we have come. We are using modern machinery, and our products are of high quality. We are happy”.
What They Make and Who They Serve
The workshop specializes in crafting a range of much-needed products for local communities, which includes, beds, chairs, cupboards, doors, and tables, and more
Handcrafted wooden furniture in progress, including bed frames, a wardrobe, and a dining set awaiting final touches.
All items are produced locally and sold directly to community members, local communities, schools, clinics and more, offering affordable, high-quality goods while keeping money circulating within the local economy.
NILALEG's Support: Laying the Foundation for Success
Through the NILALEG Project, the Mutjimagumwe Workshop has received support to ensure long-term success:
fully fenced workshop, storage warehouse, and water facilities have been provided to ensure a functional and secure work environment.
Industrial equipment secured on a trailer inside the Mutjimagumwe Workshop.
A Supply of diverse and modern carpentry equipment and tools to improve efficiency and product quality.
A series of training workshops held in 2025 equipped members with skills in business operations, entrepreneurship, leadership, and cooperative management.
Assistance with the registration of the cooperative, giving the group legal recognition and access to further support.
Trainees in blue uniforms collaborate on wooden furniture assembly during an outdoor practical session.
Looking Ahead: A Model for Community Led-Development
More than just a business, the workshop is a living example of what happens when local knowledge, government support, and community ownership come together. It exemplifies how nature-based solutions can drive both economic opportunity and environmental stewardship.
As the members continue to hone their skills and expand their customer base, the Mutjimagumwe Carpentry Workshop stands as a model for similar communities across Namibia. Through hard work, training, and partnership, they are building more than just furniture they are building a better future.
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