Access to finance opportunities for the youth

NIPDB SME Fund and DBN For Her
Young business owners have called for simpler funding processes after a Khomas information session highlighted opportunities and challenges in accessing finance.
Nee-Thanks Uupindi
  • 1 Day Ago

The Khomas Regional Council hosted an information-sharing session on 30 June 2026 under the theme “One Region, One Direction, One Future”, focusing on access to finance opportunities for young people.

The session brought together stakeholders, policymakers and young entrepreneurs to discuss funding opportunities aimed at supporting youth participation in Namibia’s economy.

Khomas Region Governor Hon. Sam Nujoma highlighted the importance of small traders to the economy, saying they played a central role in national development. “These traders are not the margin of our economy; they are its frontline. They already have the discipline, the customers and the determination, but what too many of them still lack is access to finance,” he said.

Among the initiatives presented was the SME Fund, part of the ProSME Project implemented by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) in partnership with the National Planning Commission and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The fund aims to support the sustainability, competitiveness and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through entrepreneurship support, ecosystem development and enterprise interventions aligned with national priorities.

Athanasius Vihinda, 26, said he attended the session to gain a better understanding of how young entrepreneurs could access business funding. “I’m looking forward to fruitful feedback on how the youth can benefit from NDP6 and how we can access the funds the right way,” he said.

The session also featured the DBN For Her initiative, a financing facility by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) aimed at supporting 100% women-owned enterprises.

The initiative seeks to address gender-related barriers to finance, promote inclusive economic growth and strengthen women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises across various sectors.

Brooklyn Gaoseb, 21, said the event provided useful information on youth development and access to finance. “The event provided valuable insights into youth development and access to finance. Going forward, I hope that with what was shared, we as youth can apply this information when looking for finance,” he said.

Participants also raised concerns about the application process, including the number of documents required and the time taken by funders to respond. For example, one requirement for Development Bank of Namibia funding is a cash-flow statement or six months of bank statements.

Attendees said the cost of preparing such documents through accounting firms could create additional barriers for small businesses.

The session highlighted that while funding opportunities are available for young and women entrepreneurs, improving accessibility and responsiveness will be important in ensuring these initiatives translate into practical support for businesses.