Nearly 200 Namibian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have applied for funding under the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board’s (NIPDB) SME Fund, highlighting strong demand for growth capital among local businesses.
The fund, launched under the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises Development in Namibia (ProSME) Project, provides grants of between N$50,000 and N$100,000, together with pitch coaching, business advisory services and access to local and international markets.
The initiative is implemented through a partnership between the National Planning Commission (NPC), the NIPDB and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
NIPDB Acting Executive for Competitiveness and Branding, Catherine Shipushu, said the response since applications opened on 10 June 2026 demonstrates the significant financing gap facing Namibia’s small business sector.
“Since applications opened on 10 June 2026, close to 200 applications have been received from entrepreneurs across the country, an indication of the demand for funding among businesses looking to grow beyond their current capacity,” Shipushu said.
She said limited access to finance remains one of the biggest obstacles preventing MSMEs from expanding operations, increasing production capacity and creating jobs.
“The SME Fund is designed to close that gap. It provides more than just grant capital. It is also about equipping business owners with the coaching, market access and partnerships they need to compete and grow sustainably,” she said.
The fund prioritises youth-owned businesses run by entrepreneurs aged 18 to 34, women-owned enterprises, social enterprises, cooperatives and export-ready businesses operating in strategic sectors of the economy.
Eligible sectors include agriculture and agro-processing, artisanal mining, the blue economy, the circular economy, creative industries, financial services, health and wellness, information and communication technology (ICT), manufacturing, and tourism and hospitality.
The SME Fund forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Namibia’s MSME sector by improving access to finance and supporting businesses with high growth, export and investment potential.
