This paper analyses the functioning and livelihood impact of the Mashi Craft Market (MCM), a producer‑run craft cooperative supported by IRDNC in the Caprivi Region. Drawing on purchase and sales data from 1999–2001, it examines earnings among individual crafters mostly women producing baskets, mats, jewellery, and carvings and highlights the significance of even small income amounts for low‑income households. The study identifies key constraints to craft production, especially limited access to palm and fluctuating tourist markets, and compares the MCM model with the Rossing Foundation’s craft operation. The paper concludes by outlining recommendations to strengthen sustainability, improve producer income, and expand community‑based craft enterprises within the CBNRM framework