Leading instant digital social grant payments
Bank Windhoek has reaffirmed its commitment to Namibia’s financial modernisation agenda following its participation in a high-level engagement on the rollout of Government-to-Person (G2P) payments under the national Instant Payment Programme (IPP).
The engagement brought together the Minister of Finance Erica Shafudah; Governor of the Bank of Namibia Ebson Uanguta; Deputy Governor Leonie Dunn; Bank Windhoek Managing Director James Chapman; and other first-cohort institutions implementing the IPP. Discussions focused on alignment, operational readiness and progress with the digital rollout of G2P payments through Instant Payments Namibia (IPN), the regulatory entity established to operationalise the country’s new instant payment solution.
Bank Windhoek, alongside the Bank of Namibia and two other institutions, is among the forerunners implementing the G2P use case. The bank is currently testing social grant payments on the new platform to ensure efficiency, security and system stability ahead of full rollout.
First phase
The initial phase will involve a select group of beneficiaries who already receive social grants or pension payments digitally into their bank accounts and are familiar with digital channels. This phased approach is designed to validate the end-to-end functioning of the system, embed security safeguards and build trust before national expansion.
Participants received updates on key regulatory and infrastructure enablers, including centrally deployed fraud management tools within the IPN environment, a national dispute management framework and the gazetting of fees linked to instant payment transactions.
The Minister of Finance described the programme as a cornerstone of efforts to modernise Namibia’s financial system and advance national transformation. She highlighted priorities such as understanding beneficiary financial behaviour, incentivising the shift from cash to digital payments and strengthening collaboration across institutions, ministries and community structures.
Bank Windhoek said its participation is aligned with its Social Grant Empowerment Scheme, aimed at delivering accessible and affordable financial services to vulnerable communities while supporting Government’s transition from cash-based to secure digital disbursements.
Chapman described the IPP as a pivotal step towards greater financial inclusion, transparency and resilience, adding that a phased and disciplined rollout remains essential to ensure long-term sustainability.
