More than 300 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Namibia have been trained in inclusive financial solutions under a national initiative implemented by GIZ Namibia through the ProBATS II framework.
The programme, delivered in partnership with CEFE International and local implementer NIFA Academy, also engaged over 40 financial service providers, including regulators, banks, development financiers and fintech companies.
“Over the past six months, a groundbreaking national initiative has reshaped the landscape of access to finance for Namibia’s MSMEs,” said Arinze Okafor, CEO of NIFA.
He said the initiative did not simply train businesses or financial institutions in isolation, but rather built a connection between them.
“We addressed both sides of the financial equation: giving MSMEs a voice and equipping FSPs with the tools to listen, innovate and rebuild trust,” Okafor added.
According to Okafor, the training equipped MSMEs with practical tools to strengthen their access to finance.
It included modules on psychometric and cash flow-based credit assessments, alternative collateral and de-risking frameworks, digital onboarding processes, inclusive product design labs and capacity building for credit teams and product developers.
The initiative is described as a significant step towards practical, market-based financial inclusion, complementing government support mechanisms such as the National Youth Fund, the Credit Guarantee Scheme and the National Venture Capital Fund.
“Over the past six months, this programme has trained more than 300 MSMEs across the country, engaged over 40 financial institutions and facilitated powerful insights into the realities facing youth-led, rural and informal businesses,” said Dr Michael Humavindu, Executive Director at the Ministry of Finance
Humavindu said financial inclusion “is not just a buzzword, it is an enabler of economic participation, job creation and dignity for our citizens”.
He added that the programme was implemented across all 14 regions of Namibia and sought to link MSMEs with financial service providers to develop products that respond to real market needs.
By doing so, he noted, the initiative aimed to remove long-standing barriers that have limited the participation of rural, youth-led and informal enterprises in the financial system.
“Let us use today not only to reflect on what has been achieved but to ask difficult questions: Are our products truly fit for purpose? Are we collectively moving towards a financial system that works for all, not just the few?” Humavindu said.
