The Coalition of Churches, non-governmental institutions and Labour unions for a Basic Income grant (BIG) has resolved it would continue to propagate this project and has called for a public debate. Last Friday the Coalition ended a three-day workshop to discuss details and the way forward for the principle of each Namibian to receive a monthly government social grant of N$100 from birth until the age of 59. From the age of 60 onwards, the monthly government pension would be paid.

This would reduce poverty considerably. The Namibian government had requested Namlex, a tax consortium to calculate the cost of such a basic income grant, which would require about N$1.4 billon per annum. Government then shelved the proposal due to the cost sector.

"We must act prophetically with direct relevance for people’s lives, said ELCRN Bishop Zephaniah Kameeta. " This requires that the people’s voices must be heard. The BIG deserves an open public debate and urgent consideration for implementation", the Coalition resolved. "A BIG is the only viable strategy to effectively address destitution and abject poverty in the foreseeable future," Kameeta added. The BIG is at the same time the only and financially sustainable policy proposal that would directly address mass poverty and that would have many enhancing effects on different aspects of development, said Kameeta. A BIG would improve the nutrition of children, it would support families affected by AIDS, it would enhance people’s abilities to look for work and to become economically active", he added. The Basic Income Grant would kick-start the economy in rural communities, it would empower women in their position in a household, lift the burden of pensioners who are looking after whole families and would support families to send their children to school and pay for school fees and uniforms, according to the Coalition. No fixed dates for a public debate have been set.