Page 58 - Gondwana Collection Namibia Value Creation Report 2021

HOW WE MAKE AN IMPACT v

COMMUNITIES What we do for our communities Suppliers The team carefully sources considerate, conscious and locally
designed products that represent the master brand and express
Building long-term our custodian role in caring for the environment through
upcycling and mindful display and packaging. The Narrative is
In these darkest of hours, we need each other. We continue to uplift our Suppliers healthy supplier not just an e-commerce store, but shares the story behind the
concept of each product, showcasing designs by its creators,
communities through conservancies fees, training and community projects. relationships allows for the sharing their thinking process, hardships and victories. This
human connection is the main reason why our clients support
Gondwana Card holders our store.
continual improvement of
Why our communities matter The brand selection increased from three local suppliers, Gweri
Covid-19 impact on our communities operations, streamlining Vintage Collection, FIMBI Leather Art and Tameka Design
Namibia has struggled with persistent droughts, recessions, and Between Namibia’s independence in 1990 and 2019, the tourism industry grew by 5% each year. Covid-19 devasted Promoting Brand Namibia Jewellery, to 10. New to the store are Little Bugs collection
political instability for several years. The impact of the pandemic Namibia’s tourism industry during 2020 and it did not recover in 2021. the supply chain, managing (Sossusvlei), Matukondjo Dolls Project (Kilimanjaro settlement),
was dramatic. Namibia’s gross domestic product dropped 8% Penduka (Goreangab), Ekipa Jewellery and Art (Windhoek),
in 2020 and only recovered by 1.3% in 2021. Domestic growth Tourism and the hunting industry are traditionally two of Namibia’s largest income and job creators. These industries’ Minestones jewellery (Uis), KAT Active (Windhoek) and Iyaloo
remains hampered by Covid-19 and a low rate of vaccinations. slow and interrupted resurrection leave many communities jobless and poor. We have seen that many tourism players Conservancies costs and improving Project (Goreangab). The product range per selection offered
Further risks to domestic growth are the travel restrictions in operating joint venture partnerships with communities have either closed down or can’t afford to distribute benefits has also expanded with new items in lifestyle products, clothing,
many countries and the effect from the Covid-19 fourth wave to communities. This has left countless communities and conservancies with limited income. customer services. bags, jewellery, accessories, children’s products and even a
that hit Namibia in December 2021. brand new line of locally made Gondwana fitness wear.
Gondwana continued to honour our joint venture and benefit distribution agreements by paying at least the minimum Gondwana Care Trust
Gondwana believes that we have a role to play in developing guaranteed fees to our conservancy partners. In months when our lodges performed better, we paid higher than the Suppliers are drawn to Gondwana’s trustworthy brand. We On 6 November 2021, The Narrative celebrated its first birthday.
our economy, solving youth unemployment and supporting minimum fees to the conservancies. are recognised as a reliable and responsible corporate citizen A huge proud moment was the launch of its very successful
our communities. Some of our lodges are built on communal Through establishing new cultural activities for our guests, which directly benefit the community, we provide an who invests in local businesses, partnerships and communities. product, the Adopt-a-Quiver Tree project in September 2021.
land. We uplift our surrounding communities and showcase our immersive experience. This includes a profit-sharing partnership with the Ondjumba Cultural Village near Etosha King Our suppliers include operational suppliers, tourism-related Read more on page 69.
diverse cultures to our travellers. Through immersive cultural Nehale, where we take guests for an authentic Aawambo experience. As a good corporate suppliers, car retailers, tour operators, construction companies, https://narrativenamibia.com/
experiences, travellers experience a meaningful connection with and marketing partners. We support local small, medium and
Namibia as a sustainable destination. citizen, we microenterprises (SMMEs) near our lodges, allowing us to
diversify our supplier base. We are recognised as a good debtor.
Our touchpoints with Namibian communities are: cooperate with local We continued to support our loyal suppliers and have not The proof of our success
○ We have a reputable and trustworthy brand defaulted on any monthly payments. We paid
○ We are a significant employer of Namibians from the communities and The Gondwana Care Trust received incredible assistance from
communities surrounding our lodges. Refer to page 48 suppliers and partners to continue its flagship MealForTwo N$96.5 million
○ We provide training to community members, including non- invest where we can and Back-to-School Christmas Bag projects. Suppliers offered
employees. Refer to page 50 discounted products, and some committed to monthly in-kind to local and SMMEs
○ We actively source supplies from local communities have the biggest impact. food donations to projects. (2020: N$145 million) (These suppliers include cost of
○ Our 61 375 Namibian Gondwana Card holders form a regional The Narrative Namibia sales, expenses and capital nature)
community of customers who use our services. The Narrative Namibia, our online store, expanded its range of Gondwana supports local income-generating partner
○ We partner with communities in conservancies in the local brands and products as an opportunity to take Namibia to projects through our online store and individual curio
Okavango, Zambezi, Kaokoland and Etosha experience areas, the world since the world could not visit us. Learning from the shops. These include Namibian entrepreneurs, artists,
where they own the land and lodges we operate, and they get master brand – Gondwana Collection Namibia – The Narrative women’s associations and charities that create local
a direct (profit share) and indirect (employment, etc.) benefit has systematically found its feet in the new world of online products, often from recycled goods.
from the arrangement retail. We proudly support income-generating partner projects, We spent over
○ Through the Gondwana Care Trust, we drive our social including Namibian entrepreneurs, artists, women’s associations
investment and community support via different projects and charities that create local products, often from recycled N$330 000
across Namibia goods. Gondwana buys the products from the locals, offering
them access to a broader market and enabling them to earn a
○ Our dedicated Community Liaison Officer represents decent living for themselves and their families. on locally produced curios
Gondwana in the Zambezi and Kavango regions. His focus is
on the engagement with conservancy, traditional authority, (2020: N$1 million)
and community partners

54 VALUE CREATION REPORT 2021 GONDWANA COLLECTION NAMIBIA 55