ABOUT US
Our Story
The Centre for Water Innovation Namibia (C-WIN) was born out of a pressing national need and a deep personal conviction: that water challenges in Namibia and across arid regions of Africa require not only urgent action but innovative thinking. Namibia, the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, has long grappled with water scarcity, inequitable access, aging water infrastructure, and a limited capacity to translate research into practical solutions. Yet, amidst all these challenges is an opportunity to transform Namibia into a living laboratory for water innovation.
The idea for C-WIN took root in the mind of Gettie Shiinda, who recognized a critical gap between research findings, policy action and industry application. She witnessed how countless studies remained shelved, pilot projects unscaled, and local ingenuity overlooked due to fragmented efforts, underfunding, and weak institutional alignment. As the famous saying goes, an idea is only 10% the work, she then approached fellow young minds Michelle Hailonga, Oswald Mughongora and Shalongo Angula who were crazy enough to believe they too could change the world. Together, they laid the foundation for what is now known as C-WIN. The founding journey was not without obstacles. Access to funding was limited, institutional buy-in was slow, and the path to establishing a non-profit in the water space, especially one that is focused on innovation, was unclear. Despite this, the team's unwavering belief that Namibia could lead the way in creating water solutions not just for itself but for other arid and semi-arid countries facing similar struggles propelled them forward.
What began as a vision has now become a national movement. C-WIN today stands not only as a registered non-profit but as a rallying point for thinkers, doers, and dreamers who believe in the power of innovation to secure Namibia’s water future.
Our story is still unfolding, but our mission is clear: to make Namibia, Africa’s Water Innovation Testbed, one solution at a time.
Who we are
C-WIN is a Non-Profit that pioneers innovative solutions for water management in Namibia. Through extensive research, advocacy, and community empowerment, we work towards ensuring equitable access to safe water and strive for a resilient future. Our team is dedicated to making a positive impact and creating sustainable change in the water management landscape.
|Vision |Mission
A world where water innovation drives security and resilience.
To secure Namibia’s water future through innovation, resilience, community empowerment, and collaboration.
Core Values
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Integrity: We uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in all our operations.
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Creativity: Innovation is at the heart of our approach, we embrace new ideas to solving water challenges.
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Inclusivity: We are committed to ensuring that all voices, particularly those of marginalized and vulnerable communities, are heard and considered in driving resilience through innovation.
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Impact-Driven: We are committed to delivering meaningful and measurable change.
Meet Our Team
Discover the skilled team behind C-WIN, consisting of 4 dedicated Water enthusiasts. Each member brings unique expertise and a passion for locating water sources.
Gettie Shiinda
Founder & Strategic Advisor
Over 12 years' experience in surface & groundwater management , Water-Energy Food Nexus, NBS ; PhD Candidate University of Leeds
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Michelle Hailonga
Director: Research and Innovation
Environmental Geoscientist with over 10 years of experience in environmental management and water quality monitoring, along with a solid background in website development and data management.
Angula Shalongo
Water Technology and Infrastructure Expert
A Civil engineer experienced in modeling water and wastewater treatment passionate about the digitalisation of the water sector; PhD Candidate University of Cape Town.
Oswald Mughongora
Monitoring & Evaluation Expert
Over 10 years of experience in sustainable development, with expertise in managing projects and business models across agriculture, fisheries, mining, water, and land.
Paulus Nghukufwa
Student & Intern: The International University of Management (IUM)
An honours-level hydrology student at the International University of Management, with research focused on surface water quality and water supply challenges in Windhoek.
Our Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board unites experienced professionals from diverse fields, working together to strengthen C-WIN’s mission and support innovation in water resilience and community development.
