Justicia Shipena
The Alte Feste Museum restoration project in Windhoek was hit by a setback after the U.S. Ambassador’s Cultural Preservation Fund withdrew its grant.
The withdrawal left a funding shortfall for the revival of the country’s oldest building as a cultural hub for remembrance, arts, and heritage.
In April last year, then U.S. ambassador to Namibia Randy Berry announced a grant of US$250,000 (about N$4.75 million) through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.
The grant was awarded to the Namibia Craft Centre to support the renovation of Alte Feste, a recognised heritage site under the custodianship of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts, and Culture.
The ambassador’s fund was created by the U.S. Department of State to support cultural preservation projects that align with U.S. foreign policy goals.
It has funded work to protect historic buildings, artefacts, archaeological sites, languages, ceremonies, and indigenous customs.
The withdrawal followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration announced in July that the United States would leave the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) over its decision to admit the State of Palestine.
The exit, set to take effect in December 2026, freezes U.S. funding to the UN agency, which oversees more than 1 200 World Heritage sites.
Unesco’s director general Audrey Azoulay at that time said the decision “contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism.”
The U.S. had previously withdrawn from the agency in 2018 during Trump’s first term but rejoined under then-President Joe Biden in 2023.
Since his return to office in January, Trump has rolled back Biden’s policies and cut support for several international organisations.
Earlier this year, he also withdrew U.S. support for the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Council, a move that has already affected health workers and NGOs in Namibia.
Despite the funding gap, Phase 1 of the Alte Feste project has continued with support from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, and Culture, which contributed N$5 million.
The FirstRand Foundation, through RMB Namibia, added N$650 000 in April.
In February, the German government committed N$3.2 million to the project.
The Namibia Craft Centre, in partnership with the ministry, is leading the restoration, aiming to transform the historic fort into a multipurpose cultural complex.
Plans include a Genocide Museum, a Centre of Excellence for Arts and Crafts, a bistro, a restaurant, and a covered courtyard for cultural events.
Shareen Thude, general manager of the Namibia Craft Centre, said work on the fort’s west wing began in January 2025.
Major steps included termite treatment, stormwater diversion, and repointing of foundation walls with lime mortar.
According to the Namibia Craft Centre, the northeastern tower was stabilised with reinforced supports, while failing timber beams and roof sheets were replaced with a modern screwless system.
She said heritage groups such as the Nama Traditional Leaders Association and the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation have been part of inspections to safeguard historical integrity.
Thude said a phase 1 restoration report has been prepared for submission to the National Heritage Council and other stakeholders.
She said specialists are being identified to design and curate the Genocide Museum, which will anchor the restored fort’s future role.
The Alte Feste, built in 1890, has suffered extensive structural damage over the years, including water ingress, rising damp, termite infestations, and material decay.
