Coca-Cola, a global American multinational beverage corporation, is investing $1.2 million in Namibia to strengthen water security around Windhoek, as recurring droughts and unpredictable rainfall increase pressure on the resources supplying the country’s capital.

The investment set to last five-years will support the Swakop Basin Resilience Project, a water infrastructure and ecosystem restoration initiative targeting the Swakop River Basin, an important water source for Windhoek and surrounding communities.

The project, launched on November 5, 2026, brings together Coca-Cola, Global Water Challenge and WWF Namibia to improve water availability through the construction of two sand storage dams, two boreholes and the restoration of degraded land.

Coca-Cola targets Windhoek’s water security with $1.2 million investment

Windhoek faces persistent water security challenges because of low and unpredictable rainfall, high evaporation rates and growing demand for available resources. The investment is intended to strengthen the resilience of the Swakop River Basin through interventions designed to improve groundwater recharge and protect the surrounding ecosystem.

Two sand storage dams will be constructed, while two boreholes will be drilled to support groundwater recharge in the Windhoek aquifer. The project also includes a water resilience action plan to guide efforts to improve water management across the basin.

The initiative is particularly relevant to Windhoek because its aquifer serves as an important underground water reserve, helping the city manage periods of limited rainfall.

Project will restore 235 hectares and plant 750 trees

Beyond water infrastructure, the project will restore 235 hectares of land by clearing invasive alien plants, which compete with indigenous vegetation for water and can undermine ecosystem health. It will also involve planting 750 trees in river buffer zones and environmentally degraded areas within Windhoek’s informal settlements.

These measures are intended to support ecosystem recovery, improve the condition of river corridors and strengthen communities’ resilience to climate-related pressures.

WWF Namibia Country Director Juliane Zeidler said the project would demonstrate how investment in healthy ecosystems could deliver practical benefits for communities.

“This project is an opportunity to demonstrate how investing in healthy ecosystems can deliver tangible benefits for people, while also helping communities become more resilient to future climate pressures,” Zeidler said. She added that the lessons and partnerships developed through the initiative could inform similar projects elsewhere in Namibia.

Coca-Cola expands its nearly $25 million African water programme

The Namibia project forms part of Coca-Cola’s Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, launched in 2024 with nearly $25 million committed to addressing water challenges in 20 African countries by 2030.

Coca-Cola Vice President for East and Central Africa Operations Alfred Olajide said the company’s approach prioritised locally driven interventions and partnerships.

“Because water challenges are local, our approach to water security is focused on local action and collaboration,” Olajide said, adding that the company remained focused on water stewardship, efficient water use and returning safe water to communities.

Coca-Cola Namibia Bottling Company General Manager Henry Friedrich also said the company had a responsibility to support communities facing water scarcity and protect local water resources. The investment adds to Coca-Cola’s wider water-security activities in Africa, including a separate R500 million public-private water partnership announced in South Africa.