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Nyae Nyae Development Foundation of Namibia

Supporting San communities in Namibia

The Nyae Nyae Development Foundation Namibia (NNDFN) is a non-governmental organisation working with San communities in Namibia.

NNDFN was founded in 1981 to support the indigenous Ju/’hoansi San people of the Nyae Nyae area in the former eastern Bushmanland (Tsumkwe East). NNDFN now supports the Nyae Nyae Conservancy and Community Forest, a community-based organization, responsible for managing the natural resources in the area. More recently NNDFN has also begun to support the neighbouring N≠a Jaqna Conservancy populated by Ju/’hoansi and !Kung San.

About Us

Chief-Tsamkxao

Chief Tsamkxao

Projects supported by the Nyae Nyae Development Foundation

Agricultural Projects

Funded by the European Union and Finnish Embassy several projects started to increase agricultural and livestock management capacity in two San communities where food security is a serious and daily threat to their wellbeing.

Climate Change

In cooperation with the EU, NNDFN created a project about climate change in the N≠a Jaqna Conservancy, Nyae Nyae Conservancy and Community Forests. Its main aim is to create awareness about climate change and give the San communities tools to deal with that.

Craft Projects

What started out as a micro-project, has evolved into a viable way of generating income for the, largely female, population of craft makers in Nyae Nyae Conservancy. The truly artisanal craft makers of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy produce traditional jewellery using ostrich egg shells.

Devil's Claw

In both the Nyae Nyae & N≠a Jaqna conservancies the sustainable harvesting and sale of Devil’s Claw (which is used in Europe and elswhere in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis) makes a vital contribution to income generation for their members and conservancy management.

Fire Management

The Community Based Fire Management Training Manual was developed as a component of the natural resource management capacity building programme of the Nyae-Nyae Conservancy and Community Forest and N≠a Jaqna Conservancy in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia.

Tourism

In 1998 the Nyae Nyae Conservancy became the first communal area in Namibia to be declared a conservancy by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, giving local communities the right to manage and benefit from their natural resources. Today the Nyae Nyae Conservancy is a highlight in Namibian Tourism.

News around NNDFN

15 September 2026

NNC Media Club | Leadership and Good Governance

As the Nyae Nyae Conservancy has its Annual General Meeting (AGM) underway this week, 14-18 September 2026, the NNC Media Club took a pro-active role in community advocacy while participating in their one-week, 08-12 September 2026 training programme supported by the NNDFN. Through the training,…

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NNC Media Club | Leadership and Good Governance

Nyae Nyae Media Club Empowers Tsumkwe Youth with Journalism Skills

Nyae Nyae Media Club Empowers Tsumkwe Youth with Journalism Skills

28 September 2026

Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods Through Devil’s Claw Harvesting

Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods Through Devil’s Claw Harvesting

Empowering Young Women Through Craft in Nyae Nyae

Empowering Young Women Through Craft in Nyae Nyae

Supporting Wildlife Conservation in Nyae Nyae Conservancy

Supporting Wildlife Conservation in Nyae Nyae Conservancy

26 October 2021

Urgent global campaign calling for immediate moratorium on oil and gas drilling in Okavango River Basin

Urgent global campaign calling for immediate moratorium on oil and gas drilling in Okavango River Basin

21 October 2021

Devil’s Claw Harvesting essential for Wildlife Conservation

Devil’s Claw Harvesting essential for Wildlife Conservation

23 September 2021

Main Donors

List of major donors over the last 10 years